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The industry wants job-ready students. Earlier there was a gap, now the gap is decreasing. The curriculum has been revamped to prepare students for the workforce, the educationists say.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a subject but a transformative force reshaping education globally, and India must urgently reimagine its curriculum to remain relevant, experts said at the NDTV Education Conclave. Stressing the need for technology-integrated education, they called for foundational reforms rather than piecemeal updates.

Ratuldev Ghosh Choudhury, Advisor to GLA University, said India’s higher education curriculum must undergo a complete overhaul to match the pace of global technological advancement. “You cannot avoid technology-right from the curriculum design to the way it is delivered and the environment in which it is developed,” he said, noting that nearly 47-48% of Indian graduates are not employable.

He warned against incremental changes to outdated curricula. “The students we are getting have never seen analog, they have all seen digital. The curriculum that is coming to them is from the old age. We have to revamp from the scratch, bringing technology right in the curriculum-not just in topics, but subjects.”

Indian Students Studying Abroad: The number of Indian students studying abroad has reached a massive 1.8 million in 2025, according to the data released by Ministry of External Affairs and confirmed by various internal education bodies. This marks a significant increase from 1.3 million in 2023 and reflects the robust increase in students choosing to study abroad.

Canada And UK Remain Top Choices, US Sees Growth

While Canada and UK stay as the top choice for Indian students, they have seen a slight decrease in the number of enrollments for Indian students. Canada recorded 137,608 Indian students studying in 2024 and UK had 98,890 students.

United States (US) recorded a high of 331,602 Indian students studying last year, a major increase of 23 per cent from 2023. India had surpassed China as the leading source of international students in the US for this period.

Germany and Ireland also has seen a significant increase in Indian students enrollment, with approximately 49,483 studying in Germany and over 7,000 in Australia during the 2023-2024 winter semester.

Why Students Choose To Study Abroad?

• Students choose to study abroad because of the limited seats available and high competition in premier Indian institutions like IITs and IIMs.
• The global recognition of foreign degrees and their perceived quality leads students preferring to study abroad.
• Better career and immigration prospects drive Indian students to pursue education abroad.
• There is an expanding availability of scholarships and financial aid, especially from UK and Australian universities which encourages students to enroll in their countries.

India has made progress in education, focusing on infrastructure and inclusivity

Union Education Minister highlighted NEP 2020 as a visionary framework.

India has 30 crore students from the ages of 5 to 23 years .

In the first year of Modi 3.0, India has made notable progress in the education sector, with a strong focus on infrastructure, inclusivity, and modernisation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday at the NDTV Education Conclave. He also thanked NDTV for prioritising education in its assessment of the Narendra Modi government’s performance in its first year. 

“Education has always been a key pillar and major attraction for India’s youth,” he said.

Highlighting the significance of futuristic education while preserving traditional foundations, the Union Minister emphasised that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has emerged as a visionary framework, shaping the future of learning in India.

“The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has emerged as a visionary framework, shaping the future of learning in the country. With nearly 30 crore students between the ages of 5 and 23, India’s education reforms hold immense significance. The NEP aims to blend traditional values with futuristic goals, with technology at its core,” he said.

“Encouragingly, its impact is now showing positive results. The National Education Policy (NEP) is effectively balancing tradition and innovation, nurturing strong roots while preparing students for the future.”

According to a 2024 report by the government, the country has made significant strides in expanding its Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Between 2014-15 and 2022-23, the total number of HEIs increased by 13.8% from 51,534 to 58,643. This growth includes a 59.6% rise in universities (from 760 to 1,213) and a 21.1% increase in colleges (from 38,498 to 46,624). Additionally, 42 new centrally funded institutions were established, including 8 Central Universities, 7 IITs, and 8 IIMs.

The expansion of HEIs has led to a substantial increase in student enrolment, with a 30.5% rise from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.46 crore in 2022-23. Notably, female enrolment grew by 38.4% from 1.57 crore to 2.18 crore, contributing to greater gender parity. Female students also made significant gains in STEM courses, with enrolment rising by 23% from 35.14 lakh to 43.03 lakh. Furthermore, the government recruited 52,482 candidates between May 2014 and October 2024, more than twice the number recruited in the previous decade.

Many students choose to study abroad due to the global recognition of degrees and the high standard of education offered by international institutions. Renowned universities like Harvard and MIT are known for their world-class education, experienced faculty, and extensive academic resources.

At the NDTV Education conclave, a gathering of thought leaders and industry pioneers, a question was posed to Ratuldev Ghosh Choudhury, Advisor to GLA University, about the difference between the education levels at MIT and Indian universities, and what can be done to make the students feel that they are on par with their global peers.

“Top universities like MIT are far ahead of us because they integrated a research component at a very early stage. They have a well-established ecosystem where practical learning is a core part of the education system,” Choudhury said.

He also talked about how symbiotic ecosystems need to be developed in India like available outside the country.

“In the west, in Harvard University or MIT, you would see a good amount of ecosystems, where the company like tesla is very close to the University of Nevada, Reno and they are looking at getting their skilled resources from those universities and as a reciprocal measure the university is developing courses, and imparting skills to supply to their demand.”

He then said digital transformation is closing the gap between metro, tier 1 and tier 2 cities and industry embedded institutions can help India grow. “There is huge disparity between metro, tier 1 and the tier 2 cities, so that’s a piece which over a period in time, is getting managed to a large extent because of internet connectivity, the digital transformation that is there. The gap is there but the digital transformation, that is the way ahead,” said Choudhury.

“Second is how fast and better we can integrate the industry into the academics that is what is going to be the game changer so the concept of industry embedded institutions is what is required for India to grow really fast,” he added.

The number of Indian students studying abroad crossed a mark of 1.8 million this year, marking a significant increase from 1.3 million previous year. This number is expected to continue, driven by advanced research opportunities and pursuit of globally recognized degrees. 

Dharmendra Pradhan, announced that CBSE will conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year from 2026, aiming to reduce exam-related stress.

The CBSE will conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year from 2026.

This initiative aims to reduce exam-related stress for students.

Students can choose their best score, similar to JEE Main format.

In a bid to create a stress-free learning environment, the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct Class 10 board examinations twice a year from 2026. 

Speaking on Tuesday at the NDTV Education Conclave, the minister said that “this move aims to mitigate exam-related stress among students and is a key step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). By allowing students to appear for exams twice, similar to the JEE Main format, they will have the flexibility to choose the better score.”

“The feedback I’ve received indicates students are happy with the decision to hold board exams twice a year,” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

“This initiative aims to alleviate academic stress by providing students with an opportunity to improve their scores without the pressure of a single high-stakes exam. The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises a flexible and student-centric approach to education,” the Union Minister added.

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