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India needs 86 million higher education enrolments by 2035 to meet NEP goals with technology and flexible learning key to scaling access and quality.
Technology and flexible learning are crucial for India’s higher education expansion under NEP 2020. (Representative/PTI Photo)
India’s higher education sector is undergoing a major shift as institutions move towards outcome-based, technology-enabled and learner-centric models. The push for reform comes as the country works toward the NEP 2020 target of significantly expanding access to higher education and improving quality across institutions.
To achieve the 50 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035, India will require 86.11 million student enrolments. This is an 85 percent rise from current levels and demands a sustained 5.3 percent annual growth in higher education capacity.
These insights come from the report titled “Continuous Improvement Journey of Higher Education Institutions: Approaches and Practices Shaping the Future of Learning”, published by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Grant Thornton Bharat.
Meeting this target will require systemic innovation, stronger digital adoption and collaborative investment to upgrade infrastructure and faculty strength.
Scaling Higher Education: Technology And Flexible Learning Essential
The study notes that India must rapidly expand both student seats and faculty numbers to meet future demands. It states, “To achieve the ambitious New National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 target of 50 percent in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035, India’s higher education system must accommodate approximately 86.11 million students- an 85 percent increase from its current levels. This translates to a sustained annual growth rate of around 5.3 percent over the next decade, a daunting challenge that necessitates a significant expansion in both student seats and faculty capacity.”
According to the findings, traditional higher education models alone cannot support this scale. “Traditional brick-and-mortar institutions will remain foundational, but they alone cannot meet this scale. Therefore, a differentiated approach is essential – one that includes systemic adoption of technology-enabled, flexible learning pathways such as digital universities, virtual learning ecosystems and credit-based online programmes that extend access beyond physical campuses,” it said.
The insights are based on focused discussions with universities in the northern region along with secondary research.
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Demand For Future Skills Redefining Academic Planning
The report highlights the growing importance of employability in curriculum design. It states, “With nearly 40 percent of core job skills expected to evolve by 2030, employability is emerging as a deliberate design principle within higher education. Institutions are embedding micro-credentials, modular credits, and work-integrated learning, while leveraging AI-enabled assessments and industry partnerships,” it said.
The study adds that institutions are responding to shifting learner expectations and a rapidly changing global environment. “As technology, globalisation, and learner expectations reshape the education landscape, HEIs are experimenting with innovatively enhancing academic flexibilities, improving stakeholder experience through participatory governance, policies and process revitalisation and workflow improvements and automation with technology playing an integral role both in academic and non-academic spheres,” it said.
Higher Education Transformation Now A Necessity
The analysis concludes that transforming higher education is no longer optional. It highlights that institutions are moving beyond simply improving access to also ensuring scale and quality.
It adds, “The report underlines that the transformation of higher education in India is no longer a policy aspiration; it is an operational imperative. As institutions continue their journey of continuous improvement, the dialogue is now shifting from access alone also to include scale and quality.”
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More
November 17, 2025, 2:47 PM IST
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