Education

India's higher-education system expanded in both scale and spread over the past decade. The number of universities rose from 723 in 2014 to 1,213 by 2024, the IITs grew from 16 to 23 and the IIMs from 13 to 21, and total college enrolment climbed past four crore students. The National Education Policy 2020 reset the framework, from school structure to multidisciplinary degrees.

New IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and central universities spread premier institutions into more states. Digital initiatives — SWAYAM online courses, the Academic Bank of Credits and the DIKSHA school platform — widened access, while a push on research funding and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation aims to lift India's standing in global science and innovation.

Education is largely a state subject, delivered through millions of government and private schools, with the Centre setting broad policy and funding flagship missions. The Right to Education Act (2009) made schooling free and compulsory for ages 6-14, driving near-universal enrolment. The National Education Policy 2020 now reshapes the system — flexible streams, a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, mother-tongue teaching in early years, and blending vocational skills into regular schooling.

With enrolment now near-universal, the mission moved to quality at scale. NIPUN Bharat set a national foundational-literacy target, backed by the largest teacher-training programme ever run in India, free digital content in 30-plus languages through DIKSHA, and PM SHRI exemplar schools. Higher-education enrolment has climbed steadily toward the NEP's 50% goal for 2035, with degrees redesigned around real job skills.

723 → 1,213 universities (2014→2024). 16 → 23 IITs. 13 → 21 IIMs. 4 crore+ students enrolled. NEP 2020 framework. Sources: Ministry of Education, AISHE.