NITI Aayog outlines strategy to make India a global education and research hub

India’s top policy think tank has outlined a long-term strategy to position the country as a global destination for education and research by 2047, releasing a detailed report on expanding the international footprint of higher education.

NITI Aayog unveiled “Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations,” a policy document aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 that focuses on expanding global engagement, including through “internationalisation at home.”

The report was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, Members VK Paul and Arvind Virmani, and CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, in the presence of Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and AICTE Chairman TG Sitharam.

Developed with support from an IIT Madras-led consortium, the study assesses internationalization at global, national, and institutional levels.

It reviews patterns of student and faculty mobility over the last 20 years and outlines opportunities to scale exchanges, strengthen cross-border research collaboration, and expand the presence of foreign universities in India alongside Indian campuses overseas.

The analysis draws on a nationwide survey of 160 higher education institutions across 24 states, feedback from 140 domestic and international stakeholders at a workshop held at IIT Madras, and interviews with experts from 30 institutions in 16 countries.

Addressing the gathering, Bery said there was both a business and diplomatic rationale for advancing internationalization, calling it a key instrument of India’s soft power.

Paul linked the proposals to the rollout of NEP reforms and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, adding that India should work toward hosting one lakh international students in central and state universities by 2030.

Virmani pointed to the long-term academic and economic gains from training international students in India and emphasized the importance of reinforcing doctoral education through global partnerships.

Subrahmanyam said deeper international engagement could raise course quality, curb foreign exchange outflow, and expand research collaboration, while highlighting the role of private universities, the Indian diaspora, and a more facilitative regulatory environment.

Joshi said India’s goal of becoming a global education hub would depend on coordinated efforts by public and private institutions, noting that recent UGC regulations had helped attract nearly 13 international universities.

Sitharam stressed that India must project itself as a global talent destination, especially for students from the Global South.

The report proposes 22 policy recommendations supported by 76 action pathways and 125 performance indicators across five focus areas: strategy, regulation, finance, branding and outreach, and curriculum and culture.

Together, the measures aim to accelerate the internationalization of India’s higher education ecosystem.