Believe it or not, in the dynamic realm of changing global higher education, India now stands as one of the leading nations in academic excellence, innovation and research. 

In the 16th edition of the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2024, 856 institutions are showcased from 25 countries and territories, where India now has the highest number of higher education institutions, with 148 featured universities (30 more than last year), followed by China with 133 and Japan with 96.

Research and Innovation:

The surge in India's representation at the global level is not merely a numerical achievement; it is a testament to the country's dedication to fostering innovation and research.Under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister,Narendra Modi, India has taken giant strides in creating a robust Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Regime. The Government of India has been working steadily to build an ecosystem that fosters innovation.  

India is rapidly emerging as a Global Innovation Hub, which is evident from the fact that India has consistently moved up in global ranking in the last nine years.  India has come a long way from rank 81st in 2015 to the 40th rank in the Global Innovation Index 2023 of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The remarkable improvement in India's Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking is directly attributed to advancements in patent filing, which has witnessed an eightfold increase in the number of patents granted over the past nine years.

Incubation Centres:

Incubation centers serve as crucial catalysts for research, providing a conducive environment where innovative ideas can flourish and evolve. 

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has been at the forefront of establishing world-class incubators known as Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) in universities, research institutions, and corporates. Since its inception, AIM has successfully set up 69 Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and has incubated over 2900 Startups, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for transformative ideas across the nation.

As India takes bold steps to position itself as a global hub for education, the simultaneous initiatives of establishing Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) abroad and welcoming foreign universities to set up campuses within its borders reflect a strategic vision for enhancing the nation's academic landscape. 

The first IIT campus to be set up outside India will be in Zanzibar, Tanzania and IIT Delhi will have its campus in Abu Dhabi, which will be the second campus outside India.

Concurrently, the invitation extended to foreign universities, such as Deakin University, to establish campuses in India, particularly in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), signifies a reciprocal exchange of expertise and diverse educational offerings. 

These universities will be empowered to offer courses in key domains such as Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These initiatives by the Government will open the horizon for Indian youth to receive world class education.

Rise in the Number of Higher education Institutes in India

The government has taken significant measures to increase gateways to education for the youth by giving a boost to building Universities, IITs, IIMs, and similar institutions across the country. The number of universities in the nation has witnessed a significant rise in the last 9 years, up from 723 in 2014 to 1,113 in 2023. 

Furthermore, 5,298 colleges have been built in the last 9 years (up from 38,498 in 2014 to 43,796 in 2023), which has led to increased access to education for students across the country. It is noteworthy that 43% of Universities and 61.4% of Colleges are located in Rural Areas. Moreover, the government has also expanded the number of IITs and IIMs across the country. With 7 IITs and 8IIMs built in the last 9 years, the government has ensured enhanced opportunities for students to pursue higher

With the notable improvement in global rankings, the flourishing of research initiatives, and the expansion of universities, India is unfolding a strong narrative in the Higher Education System on a global stage.