INDIA IS ADVANCING ON A NEW JOURNEY OF REFORM, PERFORMANCE, AND TRANSFORMATION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Face2News/Chandigarh
Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel, Anurag Singh Thakur, addressed the inaugural session of the India Higher Education Summit 2026 at Chandigarh University as the Chief Guest. Organized by the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU), the theme of the summit was “Towards Viksit Bharat 2047 – Universities as Engines of National Development.” More than 150 chancellors, vice-chancellors, academicians, government officials, and industry experts from across the country participated in the event.
In his address, Thakur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is undergoing a period of rapid transformation. Referring to the country’s development journey as a “Reform Express,” he stated that India is progressing through the principles of Reform, Perform, and Transform. As a result of this approach, India has become the world’s fourth-largest economy and has also achieved third place globally in the Artificial Intelligence Vibrancy Ranking. He added that rural India is connecting with development at an unprecedented scale and emerging as a new hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Highlighting the Central Government’s commitment to higher education, Thakur said that India’s educational infrastructure has witnessed historic expansion over the past decade. He noted that the number of IITs has increased from 16 to 23, while the number of IIMs has grown from 13 to 21. Additionally, the number of universities in the country has increased by nearly 59.6 percent. He emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is laying a strong foundation for transforming India into a global knowledge powerhouse.
He further stated that the Viksit Bharat Education Foundation Bill, currently under consideration by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, will be a significant step toward ensuring structural reforms and institutional accountability in higher education institutions. He expressed confidence that the bill would contribute to the development of world-class talent.
Concluding his address, Thakur appreciated the role of nearly 557 private universities in expanding educational opportunities across the country while also reminding them of their responsibilities. He stressed that universities should focus not merely on increasing numbers but on delivering quality education, promoting research, and fostering innovation. Emphasizing the need to make education more affordable and accessible, he said that institutions should be recognized for innovation rather than imitation.
He added that in the era of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, private universities must act as catalysts of change and play a leading role in helping India achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
