Raghavendra P Tiwari
Beyond economic might, the true strength of a developed India will rest on its intellectual, social, ethical, and innovation-driven ecosystem. To achieve this, a comprehensive roadmap for higher education must be envisioned — one that builds an inclusive, future-ready, and globally competitive learning environment
By 2047, when India celebrates a century of independence, higher education will emerge as one of the most powerful forces shaping the nation’s transformation into a global knowledge superpower. The future of a developed India depends not only on its economic power but also on the intellectual, social, ethical and innovation ecosystem it must nurture. In this context, a comprehensive roadmap for higher education has to be envisioned. The roadmap should seek to build an inclusive, future-ready, and globally competent learning ecosystem that ignites innovation, research, employability, and cultural leadership. The goal should be to position India among the top three higher education systems globally, where higher education institutions (HEIs) act as engines of socio-economic growth, social equity, and global competitiveness.
The rationale behind this ambitious transformation rests on four key foundations. Firstly, India’s demographic dividend presents both an opportunity and a challenge. A young and aspirational demography requires world-class, accessible higher education to unlock its true potential. Secondly, as India transitions into a knowledge economy and aims for a $40 trillion GDP by 2047, cutting-edge research, innovation, and highly skilled talent have become indispensable. Thirdly, to strengthen its global competitiveness, India must take a quantum leap to enhance its standing in research, technology, and education in order to lead in the 21st century. Finally, higher education must reflect India’s civilisational traits, where ancient knowledge systems are harmoniously blended with modern scientific and technological advancements to add unique value to contemporary civilisational discourse.
Achieving this vision requires a grand strategy. Access, equity, affordability, and inclusion must become integral components of this strategy to enable every aspiring learner to pursue outcome-based higher education, regardless of gender, geography, or socio-economic strata. By 2047, the Gross Enrolment Ratio should reach 75 per cent, supported by expanded institutions, community colleges, open digital learning platforms, and targeted support for disadvantaged groups. Massive use of digital infrastructure and local/regional language content will be crucial in bridging existing divides.
Alongside inclusivity, India ought to promote academic excellence and multidisciplinarity. All HEIs should embrace flexible, multidisciplinary curricula on existing and emerging disciplines that integrate vocational, academic, and research pathways through the National Credit Framework (NCrF). A STEAM-based curriculum, enriched by AI-enabled personalised learning pathways, will help prepare students to negotiate the complexities of the future. Concurrently, inter- and transdisciplinary learning should be cultivated through interfacing disciplines across sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences, empowering youth with real-life problem-solving skills.
Equally important is the alignment of higher education with skills, employability, and entrepreneurship. Industry-integrated curricula, mandatory internships, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship modules must become integral parts of the curricula, enabling learners not only to seek but also to create jobs. Special emphasis should be laid on social entrepreneurship for promoting employment opportunities for social science graduates. Universities should nurture start-ups and spin-offs, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. For this, HEIs should become creative centres for skill development, innovation, and entrepreneurship to thrive in a highly competitive and fast-changing learning landscape. HEIs should strive to promote critical thinking, creativity, and exploration.
Technology-enabled higher education is the future. A digital and technological transformation of higher education will accelerate growth at an unprecedented pace. Every campus must become digitally enabled, blending physical and virtual learning seamlessly. AI tutors, AR/VR-enabled labs, and metaverse classrooms will redefine pedagogy, while blockchain-based credentialling will ensure seamless global credit mobility.
Yet another equally vital aspect is the strengthening of research, innovation, and knowledge economy ecosystems. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation will have to serve as the backbone of India’s translational research ecosystem, driving the establishment of over 100 Centres of Excellence in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, green energy, defence, space, and social sectors. These must be complemented by world-class research parks, incubators, and innovation clusters. The ultimate target is for India to rank among the top three nations globally in real-world problem-solving research output by 2047.
Massive curricular, pedagogical, and assessment reforms are essential for holistic education and for transforming India’s classrooms into centres for shaping her destiny. These critical components of education should not limit the learning of youth. This is not possible without a renewed focus on faculty development and leadership. Curricula should be industry-aligned, pedagogy has to become engaging and immersive, and assessment should measure transformation in students. The establishment of a National Higher Education Leadership Academy will ensure continuous faculty training in curriculum design and development, pedagogical and assessment reforms, research, and industry exposure. India must also attract global faculty and encourage cross-border mobility of faculty and researchers.
Another crucial aspect is internationalisation. India must emerge as a global hub of higher learning, attracting more than two million international students annually by 2047. This requires accelerated collaboration, expanding joint and dual degree programmes, building international campuses, and showcasing India’s civilisational knowledge systems on the global platform.
For such an ambitious vision to succeed, governance and funding reforms are essential. The focus must shift from input-based regulation to outcome-driven governance, with institutions enjoying autonomy coupled with accountability. Public investment in higher education should be raised from the current 4.6 per cent to at least 6 per cent of GDP, complemented by resource mobilisation through philanthropy, endowments, and public-private partnerships.
In line with India’s commitment to sustainability, HEIs must evolve into green campuses, embracing renewable energy, net-zero practices, and research aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Social responsibility must also be central, with students engaging in rural immersion programmes, community service, and social innovation and entrepreneurship projects.
A vibrant cultural ecosystem is central to India’s emergence as a globally respected knowledge and innovation hub. By 2047, India’s cultural ecosystem must reflect the harmony of tradition and modernity. Her cultural landscape must envision the synthesis of its ancient civilisational discourse and modern global outlook. A culturally vibrant India will not only nurture its own citizens but also inspire and lead the world in creative, intellectual, and civilisational excellence. Therefore, the vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 should place equal emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, creativity, and international cultural engagement.
To ensure accountability, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework must be created. This will have to include a National Higher Education Dashboard offering real-time data on enrolment, outcomes, employability, and research; an independent evaluation agency to track institutional performance; and an annual “State of Higher Education Report” presented to Parliament.
The outcomes of India’s education system have to be transformative by 2047. India’s universities will have to be globally benchmarked for producing thought leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and cultural ambassadors. Higher education should be able to serve as the engine of India’s $40 trillion knowledge economy.
Most importantly, India will have to reclaim its place as a global knowledge superpower, offering inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready higher education that contributes not just to national progress but also to global well-being.
(The writer is Vice Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda)
Note : First published in Daily Pioneer