NITI Aayog charts roadmap to transform India into a global education hub

India’s education sector carries an extraordinary privilege—and a profound responsibility: imparting knowledge to one-fifth of the world's youth. By equipping this generation to address complex societal challenges, India is positioned to shape the future of humankind.

To unlock this potential, NITI Aayog has released a landmark report titled: "Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations." This strategic roadmap identifies internationalisation as a central pillar for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, marking a paradigm shift for India from being a "source country" of students to becoming a premier global destination for learning and research.

The report provides a deep dive into global student mobility patterns, the impact of cross-border research collaborations, and successful models for onshore and offshore campuses. Developed through consultations with over 160 Indian universities and 30 international institutions, the framework consists of 22 policy recommendations and 76 actionable pathways rooted in India’s unique strengths.

Attracting global talent: The ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ vision

A cornerstone of the proposal is the launch of the ‘Vishwa Bandhu Fellowship.’ This prestigious programme is designed to create a globally competitive and flexible framework to attract top-tier researchers and faculty, with a particular focus on the Indian diaspora. By offering diverse engagement models and tangible incentives, the fellowship aims to facilitate high-impact research and long-term academic synergy.

To support this talent influx, NITI Aayog recommends a total overhaul of administrative and regulatory hurdles. Key proposals to transform the visa and residency experience include:

• Dedicated facilitation: Establishing a centralised visa facilitation system with dedicated ‘Education Desks’ at major Indian missions abroad.

• Transparency via e-FRRO: Improving the Electronic Foreigners Regional Registration Office (e-FRRO) portal to provide upfront visibility of required documents and all applicable charges for registration, extensions, or exit permits.

• Prioritising research: Expediting the review process for long-term research and faculty visas, aiming to reduce current FRRO certificate processing times from the typical 7–20 days.

• Streamlined onboarding: Implementing proactive notifications for students requiring Police Clearance, ensuring both the student and the host institute’s nodal officer are informed well in advance.

Institutional moats: Bringing the world to India

The roadmap envisions a ‘plug-and-play’ infrastructure for global institutions, leveraging existing industrial and academic strengths:

The GIFT City Model: NITI Aayog advocates for replicating the GIFT City approach—characterised by regulatory autonomy and tax neutrality—to create regional research and innovation hubs. This includes leveraging clusters like Genome Valley for biotech and Bengaluru for AI.

Campus within a campus: The report introduces a ‘brownfield’ investment model where foreign universities can establish co-located campuses within existing Indian public and private institutions. These would be governed by a 10-year sunset clause and sustainable, rent-based commercial models.

Broadening onshore eligibility: Moving beyond a strict reliance on top-500 global rankings, the report suggests a more nuanced evaluation of foreign institutions. An expert panel would assess potential partners based on research impact, teaching quality, and student-led innovation, allowing high-standard niche institutions to enter the Indian market.

Looking ahead at 2047

The NITI Aayog roadmap is not merely a set of administrative tweaks; it is a fundamental reimagining of India’s role in the global knowledge economy. By aligning domestic policy with international standards, India aims to leapfrog from its current standing to host between 3 lakh to 11 lakh international students by 2047.

The success of this roadmap hinges on the proposed $10 billion "Bharat Vidya Kosh"—a National Research Sovereign Wealth Impact Fund—and the seamless integration of international metrics into the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). As India opens its doors to the world’s best universities and researchers, it creates a "dual-win" scenario: providing Indian students with world-class exposure at home while cementing India’s status as a Vishwa Guru for the 21st century.