By Atul Rawat
“The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of nature.”— Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
A nation’s strength is measured in many ways. Some judge it by military capability, others by economic output. Still others point to technological leadership or abundant natural resources. These are undoubtedly important. Yet history repeatedly shows that behind every prosperous nation lies one common denominator—an educated population, always and every time.
Education, in the true sense, is meant to do far more than just produce graduates or improve the literacy rate. Amongst all the things that we expect out of education, the one which stands out is that it meant to create informed citizens. Also, there is no doubt that true education shapes the character of a nation as much as it shapes its economy.
For India, this assumes extraordinary significance.
India today possesses a young population. More than 65% of Indians are below the age of 35, making India one of the world’s youngest major economies. This demographic dividend can either become India’s greatest asset, or its greatest missed opportunity. Dividend of demography will only come if the constituents of the demography are productive through education and job skills. This is the dividend that will help India to become a developed nation by 2047. Or, just another populous country.
Education is Investment, Not Expenditure. When we study the Government’s Annual Budget, we celebrate investments in national level infrastructure such as highways, airports, ports, metros and industrial corridors. Yes, over a period of time these have become the visible assets of our progress.
Education is different. Its returns cannot be measured in annual turnover or milestones. Its returns are slower but infinitely larger. Quality education over a period of time leads to higher productivity and greater innovation, contributing to prosperity for all.
Where Does India Stand? There has been an enormous expansion in access to education in India since independence. School enrolment has risen dramatically and higher education has become one of the largest systems in the world. According to the Ministry of Education’s AISHE 2021–22 – India has over 4.3 crore students enrolled in higher education, and has more than 1,100 universities and over 45,000 colleges. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has risen to 28.4%, compared to approximately 11% two decades ago.
These numbers are impressive no doubt. But do they tell the whole story? Not really.
The numbers do matter, no doubt, but so the does the quality of those numbers. A large education system is not necessarily a good education system. The real challenge, therefore, is to ensure that every additional student entering the system receives an education that equips him or her for life and work.
The Funding Question. Sustained investment in both humans (intellect) and material (finances) is essential for imparting quality education. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reiterates a long-standing national goal of raising public expenditure on education to 6% of GDP. The Union Budget for FY 2026–27 allocates Rs 1.39 lakh crores to the Ministry of Education—about 2.6% of total Union expenditure. However, the latest official data put combined public expenditure on education by the Centre and States/UTs at 4.06% of GDP in 2022–23, still well below the NEP 2020 target of 6%. UNESCO’s Education 2030 framework uses a benchmark of 4–6% of GDP for public expenditure on education.
While it is important to ensure that the allocation of funds is adequate, it is also equally important to ensure that there is value for every rupee spent. There is a need to maintain a balance between expenditure on teacher training, research, laboratories, libraries and digital infrastructure versus expenditure focused only on buildings and physical expansion. In order to show growth in other sectors such as health, food security, welfare programmes, defence and infrastructure, education sometimes loses focus because its results are not immediate. While we get to see the grand opening of a newly established university with great fanfare by the esteemed Minister, the quality of the faculty and the skills imparted to the students is never covered.
Education is More Than Schools. Education is often reduced to classrooms. That is a mistake. A modern education system requires competent teachers, research universities, vocational institutions, digital learning platforms, industry partnerships, libraries, laboratories, innovation hubs, internships and opportunities for lifelong learning. India has a vast teaching workforce. Yet, United District Information for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023–24 records more than 1.10 lakh single-teacher schools. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education reported around 10 lakh teacher posts are vacant under Samagra Shiksha-supported schools, with roughly 7.5 lakh vacancies at the elementary level.
Besides the numbers, the quality of the teacher standing in front of the classroom matters at least as much. Because it is the teacher who will assist in preparing young people not only for the next job but also giving them the capacity to create jobs. Countries that have become economic and technological leaders built an ecosystem in which schools, universities, industry, research institutions and entrepreneurs could learn from and reinforce one another.
Who Should Take the Lead? Government is the primary participant. After all it collects taxes in the name of education and hence it must not only spend well but also provide the policy framework, establish standards and create an environment in which good education can flourish. However, the government alone cannot succeed.
If industry needs skilled workers, should it not invest in the education and training that produces them? If universities need research funding, should industry and philanthropy not help create research centres and laboratories? If communities need good schools, should local communities not participate in improving them?
There is considerable scope for philanthropy, alumni contributions, parental participation and civil-society engagement. Education will make real progress only when society begins to see it as a shared responsibility rather than merely another government programme. A genuine educational transformation requires a whole-of-nation approach.
Building Islands of Excellence. India already possesses remarkable institutions—the IITs, IISc, AIIMS, IIMs and several central universities. These institutions have demonstrated that India can produce education and research of global standards. The challenge now is to multiply that success.
There is a need for every State to build institutions that attract talent rather than merely accommodate it. A few islands of excellence are not enough for a country of India’s size. India needs many more institutions capable of competing with the best in the world.
From Degrees to Competence. Perhaps the greatest challenge before Indian education is no longer enrolment. It is employability. Millions of young Indians enter the workforce every year, yet employers continue to report shortages of job-ready skills. The work environment of the future favours people who can think critically, solve problems, communicate clearly, work with technology, innovate and make sound ethical choices.
Research: The Missing Link. Research is at the heart of all this. As a student moves from school to college and eventually to postgraduate and doctoral education, the ability to ask questions and investigate them systematically becomes increasingly important. There are almost no instances in history where nations have become technological leaders without sustained investment in research and innovation.
Universities therefore have to become creators of knowledge, not merely distributors of degrees. Research funding, doctoral education, collaboration with industry and international partnerships will be essential if India wants to compete in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Innovation may begin in the classroom, but it has to mature in the laboratory.
Education and Nation Building. The contribution of education is more than merely a GDP number. Education strengthens democracy and nurtures constitutional values. It can help to reduce inequality and promote social mobility. It can empower women and help create citizens who can distinguish between information and knowledge, between disagreement and hostility, and between rights and responsibilities.
That is why education is ultimately a nation-building exercise.
As India moves towards 2047, the defining question will always be whether we can educate every child well enough to build the India of tomorrow. If India genuinely wishes to become a developed nation, our national mission must become Educate India. Because, India’s greatest infrastructure – is the human mind.
(The author blogs at Notesfromdehradun@Atul Rawat)
