GG News Bureau
Hyderabad, 16th Nov. NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam highlighted India’s need to double its number of universities to 2,500 to achieve 50% enrollment of the eligible age group in higher education. Speaking at the Indian School of Business (ISB) on Friday, Subrahmanyam noted that despite significant progress, only 29% of the age cohort currently enrolls in universities.
Doubling Universities and Reimagining Education
India has 1,200 universities and over four crore students, yet the enrollment falls short of global benchmarks. “We need to double the colleges and universities in the country. Maybe we need to deliver education differently,” he said, emphasizing innovative approaches to education delivery.
India as a Global Digital Laboratory
Subrahmanyam praised India’s digital infrastructure, describing the nation as the world’s largest digital laboratory. With a vast architecture of public digital infrastructure, India has surpassed nations like Estonia and even challenges the scale of the U.S. in digital innovation.
“Every Indian has a digital identity, and over 120 crore people hold bank accounts. Innovations like UPI have made India a leader in digital financial transactions, accounting for nearly half of all global financial transactions by volume,” he said, citing 10 billion monthly transactions.
Vision for a $30 Trillion Economy by 2047
The NITI CEO predicted that India will surpass the current economic size of the U.S. and China, becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. He stressed the importance of inclusivity in this growth, saying, “Viksit Bharat is not just about prosperity but also about lifting all sections of society.”
Focus on Research, Innovation, and Climate Leadership
Subrahmanyam emphasized research and innovation as critical to India’s development, adding that the country has become a fintech innovation hub. He also noted India’s potential leadership in climate change, as the country can adopt green technologies without the need for re-engineering existing systems, unlike the West.
Infrastructure and Poverty Alleviation
Over the past decade, India has seen rapid infrastructure development and significant poverty reduction, with 25 crore people escaping acute poverty. Subrahmanyam also highlighted advancements in rural water supply, electricity, roads, housing, and transportation, including Vande Bharat trains.
Technological Leadership and NITI Aayog’s Role
NITI Aayog is shaping India’s future by preparing visions for cities, advancing agriculture into new areas like horticulture and aquaculture, and capturing technological trends. “India should lead in frontier technologies, setting global benchmarks and standards,” Subrahmanyam said, asserting that NITI Aayog will drive this transformation.
With its innovations, infrastructure, and focus on inclusivity, India is poised to become a global leader across multiple domains, Subrahmanyam concluded.
The post India Needs 2,500 Universities to Achieve 50% Enrollment in Higher Education: NITI Aayog CEO appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
