CII Report Claims India Needs 86 Million Students by 2035 to Achieve NEP 2020 Goals

According to a new report, India will need a massive increase in the number of students pursuing higher education by 2035 if it is to achieve the goals set under the National Education Policy.

The country's higher education system is facing a major challenge in the coming years. The report, released by industry body CII and Grant Thornton India, states that India will need approximately 85% more enrollments compared to the current situation. This directly implies a significant increase in the number of colleges, universities, and teachers.

Target of 50% GER by 2035

According to the report, the NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in the country to 50% by 2035. To achieve this, India will need to enroll approximately 86.1 million students in higher education. This figure is significantly higher than the current number of students studying in colleges and universities. The report states that a consistent annual growth of about 5.3 percent will be required for the next 10 years, which is no easy task.

Routine Colleges and Universities Alone Cannot Meet This Demand

The report clearly states that routine colleges and universities alone will not be able to meet this demand. While physical campuses will remain the backbone of education, new approaches will be needed to accommodate such a large number of students. The report emphasizes the need for widespread adoption of digital universities, online credit courses, virtual learning systems, and technology-based education to extend the reach of education beyond traditional campuses. The report also highlights that job-related skills will change rapidly in the coming years, with an estimated 40 percent of job skills expected to change by 2030. For this reason, higher education institutions are designing courses that focus on both academics and employability. Micro-credential modular courses, developed in collaboration with industry, and options like AI-based assessments are being adopted rapidly.

Technology is transforming the way education is delivered.

According to the report, technology, globalization, and changing student expectations are driving higher education institutions to transform their systems. Digital tools are being increasingly used not only in teaching but also in administration, governance, and decision-making processes. The goal is not simply to increase the number of students, but to improve the quality and experience of education.