NITI Aayog on Internationalisation of Higher Education in India:
NITI Aayog has released a report titled Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations, outlining a comprehensive road map to make India a global destination for higher education.
- India has a 1:28 inbound–outbound student ratio, indicating a major skew toward outward migration.
- This reflects a significant brain drain and loss of domestic academic capacity.
- Over 16 lakh Indians have renounced citizenship since 2011, partly due to overseas education–migration pathways. Internationalisation can convert brain drain into brain circulation.
- Indian students’ overseas education spending is projected at Rs 6.2 lakh crore by 2025.
- This equals nearly 2% of GDP and about 75% of India’s trade deficit (FY 2024–25).
- Concentration of Indian students in high-income strategic countries (US, UK, Australia) (over 8.5 lakh Indian students) risks weakening India’s long-term knowledge economy and innovation base.
- Attracting global talent improves research quality and institutional rankings.
- India hosts about 47,000 international students (2022), but with stronger policy support, inbound numbers could rise to 7.89–11 lakh by 2047.
- Since 2001, international student inflow has grown by 518%, highlighting India’s significant yet underutilised potential as a global education hub.
- Inflow of international students and faculty enhances research output, cross-cultural learning, and global collaborations.
- It positions India as a global knowledge hub and strengthens educational diplomacy.
- Internationalisation aligns with National Education Policy 2020 and India’s 2047 development vision.
- It helps build a high-skilled workforce essential for economic growth and technological leadership
