State Public Universities (SPUs), which account for over 80 per cent of higher education students in India, must enhance both quality and scale if the country is to achieve its Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said on Monday.
He made these remarks while releasing the report “Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities” along with NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Berry and Member VK Paul.
“Whole idea is to have SPU ecosystem that is comparable to whatever has been said at the national level through national university. That is the goal,” Subrahmanyam said.
This is a seminal report given that there are lot of constraints within which State Public education system works, he added.
Doubling Higher Education Enrolment by 2047
By 2047, India will need to double its higher education enrollment from existing 4.5 crore to over 9 crore students. However, the challenge is not just expanding access but ensuring that these students receive an education that aligns with the needs of a developed nation.
“The goal is not just to have 9 crore students with degrees, but 9 crore students with education that meets the requirements of a developed country,” Subrahmanyam said.
He pointed out that while Central Government institutions like IITs, AIIMS, and NITs receive significant attention for their role at the frontier of knowledge, SPUs cater to the vast majority of students and must strengthen their capabilities.
Challenges in the State Public University System
Subrahmanyam acknowledged that many SPUs face challenges in quality and scale, and emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms. “The bulk of SPUs must upskill in both quality and quantity of education. That is a big challenge,” he noted.
The report highlights four critical areas where SPUs need improvement and made necessary recommendations—Quality; governance; Employability and Funding and financing
Since over 7 crore of the projected 9 crore students in 2047 will study in SPUs, Subramanyam raised concerns about whether these institutions will have the capacity to provide quality education or merely produce graduates unfit for even routine clerical jobs.
State Governments Must Lead Reforms
Subrahmanyam stressed that State Governments hold the key to transforming higher education. “Who controls governance in SPUs? Who ensures quality? Who makes sure graduates are employable? It is the State Governments,” he pointed out, urging them to take decisive action.
The report lays out a roadmap for reforms, primarily directed at State Governments, with support from the Ministry of Education at the Centre. It highlights the need for better funding models, industry-linked education, and streamlined governance structures.
“If States are willing to take four steps, the Government of India will take one step to support them,” Subrahmanyam assured.
A Roadmap Aligned with NEP 2020
The NITI Aayog CEO described the report as a seminal work that complements the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, providing a detailed roadmap for State-level reforms in higher education.
“This report acts as a guidepost for States, outlining what needs to be done to transform the SPU ecosystem to match national standards,” Subrahmanyam said.
With India’s aspirations of becoming a developed economy by 2047, strengthening State Public Universities will be critical in shaping a skilled and globally competitive workforce. The report sets the stage for urgent action, with the onus now on State Governments to drive meaningful reforms, according to NITI Aayog officials.
Bit Puzzling
Suman Berry, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog highlighted that India has traditionally done extremely well I. Secondary education and established strong foundation. “However I am a bit puzzled as to why that tradition has not survived in our public Universities. In many of the jurisdictions in the West such as the US, it is public universities that has set the standards and not private universities”, he said.
