States Join Hands to Shape 'Higher Education: Knowledge Economy' Roadmap

In a major step toward shaping India’s educational landscape in alignment with the country’s developmental vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the Department of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), organized a National-Level Workshop on the theme “Higher Education: Knowledge Economy”. The workshop was held at the Pragyan Auditorium, AICTE, New Delhi, as part of the preparatory activities for the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries, scheduled later this year.

The overarching theme of the Conference is “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat”, with higher education being recognized as a crucial enabler for building a future-ready workforce, fostering innovation, and catalyzing economic growth.

States & UTs as Key Partners in Shaping India’s Knowledge Economy

In his inaugural address, Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, underscored the critical role of States and Union Territories in transforming India’s higher education ecosystem. He emphasized that national progress is intricately tied to state-level educational outcomes, stating:

“If States improve, Bharat improves. Our policies must resonate with the ground realities of each region.”

He urged States and UTs to expand consultations beyond capitals, tailor national schemes to local contexts, and treat the Concept Note shared earlier by the Ministry as a blueprint for transformative policy action. He called for active inter-state knowledge sharing, the use of digital platforms for outreach, and greater attention to inclusive access and equity in higher education.

Reimagining Agricultural and Technical Education for the Future

Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, DARE, highlighted the need to overhaul agricultural education in light of evolving challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and food security. He called for integrating AI, ML, data analytics, and behavioral sciences into agri-curricula and fostering inter-institutional collaboration among agricultural universities, IITs, and other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, further emphasized the necessity of embedding emerging technologies like robotics, IoT, and Industry 4.0 tools into engineering and technical education. He showcased progressive AICTE initiatives such as:

• Smart India Hackathon – Nurturing problem-solving and innovation

• AICTE Internship Portal – Connecting students with hands-on industry experience

• E-Kumbh Portal – Offering free multilingual textbooks to democratize technical learning

These initiatives, he said, are aligned with NEP 2020 and aimed at positioning India as a global product innovation hub.

Breaking Silos: Encouraging Interdisciplinary and Indigenous Learning

Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairman of UGC, advocated for breaking disciplinary silos and embracing interdisciplinary education to spark creativity and adaptability among students. He elaborated on reforms such as:

• National Credit Framework (NCrF)

• National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF)

These frameworks, he explained, are central to facilitating credit portability, lifelong learning, and academic mobility, especially as the world of work becomes increasingly fluid.

The workshop also highlighted the need to promote Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in mainstream curricula. Prof. R.D. Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University, stressed the importance of blending ancient wisdom with modern disciplines, while Shri B. Venugopal Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, outlined ambitious projects like EduCity Navi Mumbai and plans for offshore campuses to globalize Indian education.

Addressing Systemic Challenges in State Public Universities

Raising State Public Universities (SPUs) to the level of Institutes of National Importance was another key discussion point. Prof. Sangeeta Shukla, VC of CCS University, Uttar Pradesh, emphasized:

• Faculty and infrastructure parity

• Equitable funding mechanisms

• Performance-linked governance reforms

She called for targeted interventions to uplift SPUs, which serve the majority of India’s higher education population, and bridge the urban-rural institutional divide.

Building Tech-Ready Human Capital at the Grassroots

A compelling case study was presented by Dr. Shobha G, Director, Department of Collegiate Education, Karnataka, who shared the success of Nipuna Karnataka—a state-wide digital platform and Learning Management System (LMS) that supports over 4 lakh students. The initiative facilitates blended learning, skill development, and faculty capacity building.

Reversing Brain Drain and Cultivating Brain Gain

Dr. Sunil Pareek from NIFTEM, Haryana, proposed policy innovations like “Brain Gain Sabbaticals”—where Indian-origin academics and scientists abroad could be incentivized to return temporarily and contribute to Indian institutions. The discussion highlighted the need to:

• Create globally competitive ecosystems in Indian institutions

• Establish research chairs, fellowships, and collaborative labs

• Leverage diaspora networks for knowledge repatriation

Next Steps: Inputs for Viksit Bharat Roadmap

As a follow-up to the workshop, all States and UTs have been instructed to:

• Collect feedback from officers—including those at district and grassroots levels

• Upload feedback notes on the designated portal by 20th August 2025

• Submit state-specific notes on “Higher Education: Knowledge Economy” by 31st August 2025

These inputs will form the basis for drafting a comprehensive Background Note to be presented at the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries, guiding strategic deliberations and setting measurable targets for India’s higher education reforms under Viksit Bharat.

Aligning Higher Education with India's Development Aspirations

The workshop successfully catalyzed intergovernmental dialogue on aligning higher education with economic, social, and technological priorities. With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as its compass, and the knowledge economy as its mission, India is charting a path toward inclusive, future-ready, and innovation-driven higher education.

As India marches toward 2047, building human capital through robust, adaptive, and technology-integrated higher education systems will be key to realizing the vision of a developed and empowered Bharat.