New Delhi: Over the past eleven years, a quiet yet powerful transformation has been unfolding across India-one that places its youth at the heart of national progress. With nearly 65% of its population under the age of 35, India stands as the world’s youngest nation. The government, recognizing this unprecedented demographic advantage, has taken decisive steps to equip its youth with the tools they need to shape a brighter, more prosperous future.
In the last decade, India has made rapid progress in strengthening its education system, from schools to universities. Major reforms and expansion of institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS show the government’s strong commitment to providing quality and future-ready education for all.
These reforms reflected in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 announced in July 2020. The National Education Policy 2020 proposes various reforms in school education as well as higher education including technical education. It aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio to 100% in preschool to secondary level by 2030 whereas GER in Higher Education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035.
Rise in higher education infrastructure
• Higher Education Institutions: According to All India Survey on Higher Education portal, the number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) witnesses a remarkable 13.8% increase, rising from 51,534 in 2014-15 to an impressive 70,683 as of May 2025. This number contains Universities, Colleges,
Standalone Universities/Colleges, PM Vidyalaxmi and Research and Development Institutes.
• University Growth: Universities grew from 760 in 2014-15 to 1,334 as of May 2025 showcasing India’s commitment to world-class institutions.
• College Growth: Colleges increased from 38,498 in 2014-15 to 51, 959 as of May 2025 meeting the growing demand for higher education.
• IITs Growth: In 2014, there were 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). With the addition of 7 new IITs in the subsequent years, the total number has risen to 23 as of May 2025.
IIT Infrastructure Boost: On May 7 2025 cabinet approved Phase-B expansion for 5 IITs (Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad). Also, ₹11,828.79 crore were sanctioned for infrastructure from 2025–2029. On completion of construction, these five IITs shall be able to cater 13,687 students as against current student strength of 7,111 i.e. an increase of 6,576 students.
IIM: In 2014, there were 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). By May 2025, this number has grown to 21.
•Medical Education Boost: Since 2014, the number of AIIMS institutions has increased from 7 to 23, effectively tripling. Additionally, the number of medical colleges has surged from 387 to 2,045, offering over 1.9 lakh medical seats as of 2024.
PM SHRI Schools
Launched in September 2022, the PM SHRI, the PM Schools for Rising India, scheme is a centrally Sponsored initiative with a total outlay of ₹27,360 crore (Rs 18,128 crore as central share) for five years (2022–23 to 2026–27). The scheme aims to transform selected schools into model institutions showcasing all components of the National Education Policy 2020. These schools will focus on quality education, holistic development and 21st-century skills, while also serving as mentor institutions for neighboring schools.
Youth becoming more job-ready
With one of the world’s youngest populations, India has made significant strides in aligning its youth with industry-ready skills. According to recent data, the percentage of students in their final and pre-final years who are job-ready has increased sharply from 33.9% in 2014 to 51.3% in 2024.
This progress is largely attributed to the government’s focused skill development initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment.
One of the flagship programs, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), has played a pivotal role in this transformation. Since its launch in 2015, the scheme has successfully trained over 1.63 crore youth across various sectors.
In addition to PMKVY, the government has actively promoted sector-specific training programs through Sector Skill Councils. In particular, the Capital Goods Sector Skill Council has introduced 40 Qualification Packs (QPs) targeting higher-level technical jobs. These QPs serve as structured guides detailing the competencies required for advanced roles, ensuring that workers are trained or retrained to meet evolving industry standards.
