India aims to host 500k foreign students by 2047: Niti Aayog CEO

During the 18th FICCI Higher Education Summit, Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam revealed India’s ambitious goal of enrolling half a million foreign students by 2047. Emphasising the transformative impact of technology on higher education, he urged universities to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to remain competitive.

As part of Niti Aayog’s vision document for 2047, Subrahmanyam outlined key objectives, including positioning India as a global education provider by enhancing quality, brand value, and international rankings. Stressing the need for more education cities in India, he called on the private sector to expand the higher education ecosystem and attract both international and domestic students.

Subrahmanyam also underscored the importance of innovation in the higher education sector, urging a revamp of the educational system to ensure students are prepared for the industry. He highlighted the imminent disruption caused by technology, stating that universities must adopt AI extensively to stay relevant. Recognising the pivotal role of universities in shaping students’ thought processes, he noted a 25-year window for Indian institutes to leverage the country’s demographic dividend.