New Delhi |India has achieved a significant increase in school enrollment by strengthening educational infrastructure and teacher capacity, but experts stress that the next critical challenge lies in improving learning outcomes and aligning education with employment needs, according to the Economic Survey 2025–26 presented in Parliament on Thursday.
The survey, tabled by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, notes steady progress in access to education across all levels. However, education experts emphasize that India must shift its focus from enrollment numbers to skill-oriented and employment-ready education to ensure better career opportunities for students.
Experts Emphasize Skill Education from Early Stages
Former Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University, Dr. R.B. Solanki, said that practical and job-oriented courses need to be integrated into the education system at an earlier stage.
“Skill-based education is largely confined to higher education today. To improve employability, such training should begin at the secondary school level,” Solanki said.
Echoing similar views, Professor Nand Kishore of Central University of Haryana highlighted the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
“What students learn in classrooms often does not translate into workplace skills. This gap must be bridged by strengthening skill development and making education more employment-oriented,” he said.
Enrollment Growth Across School Levels
The Economic Survey reports notable gains in the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER):
- Primary level (Grades I–V): 90.9%
- Upper primary (Grades VI–VIII): 90.3%
- Secondary level (Grades IX–X): 78.7%
- Higher secondary (Grades XI–XII): 58.4%
Under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework, enrollment trends show continued improvement, with GER reaching 95.4% at the foundational level, 90.3% at the middle level, and 68.5% at the secondary level.
Education Key to ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ Vision
The survey describes school education as the foundation of India’s human capital and a central pillar in achieving the vision of Developed India by 2047. Drawing lessons from fast-growing Asian economies, it underscores that sustained investment in education, skills, and technology can significantly boost productivity, innovation, and economic transformation.
India currently operates one of the world’s largest education systems, with 1.47 million schools, 246.9 million students, and over 10.1 million teachers, according to UDISE+ data for 2024–25.
Higher Education Expansion Continues
The number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has increased from 51,534 in 2014–15 to 70,018 by June 2025. India now has 23 IITs, 21 IIMs, and 20 AIIMS, along with international IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi.
Student enrollment in higher education rose from 43.3 million in 2021–22 to 44.6 million in 2022–23, according to provisional data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE).
Reforms Under National Education Policy
The survey highlights key reforms under the NEP, including the National Credit Framework, adopted by 170 universities to integrate academic and skill-based learning. The Academic Bank of Credits now covers 2,660 institutions, with over 46 million IDs issued, including 22 million credit-enabled APAAR IDs.
Way Forward
Education experts agree that while enrollment gains are encouraging, India’s long-term growth depends on making education more relevant to labor market needs, enabling students to transition smoothly into employment or higher education.