Deregulate education today to be able to achieve Viksit Bharat in 2047

Today, we stand at the inflection point in India’s development journey. As we look
ahead toward the centenary of our independence, the idea of Viksit Bharat—a
developed India—is not merely a slogan. It is a national aspiration and a collective
resolve. Viksit Bharat envisions a nation that is prosperous, inclusive, equitable, and
self-reliant, ensuring opportunities and well-being for every section of society. It
imagines an India where growth translates into dignity, security, and expanded
possibilities for all.

Realising this vision requires clarity of purpose and a deep understanding of the
magnitude of the task ahead. Today, India’s per capita income stands at
approximately $2,600. To transform ourselves into a developed nation by 2047, we
must raise this figure to $20,000. That means our per capita income must grow at
an average annual rate of around 10 percent for the next two decades. This is
ambitious, but it is not impossible. Several countries have achieved such sustained
growth. The question is: Can we? We firmly believe the answer is yes if we take the
right steps beginning now.

Our demographic outlook deepens the urgency of this challenge. By 2047, India’s
population is projected to reach between 1.68 and 1.7 billion. We will be more
urban, with nearly 900 million people living in cities, amounting to about 50
percent of our population, compared to 35 percent today. At the same time, our
median age will rise from 28 to about 35 years, and the proportion of elderly
citizens aged 60 and above will more than double, from 8.6 percent today to
over 20 percent in 2047. This means we will have a shrinking percentage of
working-age individuals and a growing share of people who will need care and
support.

In such a scenario, only one strategy can secure India’s path to becoming a
developed nation: transforming our population into high-capacity human capital.
The workforce that will build Viksit Bharat in 2047 is sitting in our Grade 1
classrooms today. That is why the urgency of reforming and strengthening our
education system cannot be overstated. The window for action is narrow, and every
year lost is an opportunity lost forever.

India has successfully addressed the challenge of access to schooling, with nearly
97 percent of children enrolled in Grade 1. However, our challenge today is not
the access, it is the quality. Millions of children complete primary school without
acquiring basic foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy. Evidence from
ASER, the National Achievement Surveys, and international assessments
repeatedly confirms a deep and persistent learning crisis. What is more
worrying is that despite numerous government programs and international support,
the situation has barely improved in more than a decade.

Families across India understand this reality. It is reflected in their choices. Private
school enrollment, which used to be modest, has risen steadily and may now be
close to 40 percent. If current trends continue, it is likely to grow to 60 to 70
percent in the next two decades. This shift is not merely a preference for private
schooling; it is a verdict, a verdict on quality, accountability, and outcomes.

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The question before us is clear: What can India do to radically transform
education and ensure equity, inclusion, quality, accountability, and
affordability — principles that lie at the heart of the National Education
Policy 2020?

First, we must recognise that the supply of high-quality schools is inadequate
relative to the needs of our vast and diverse population. Education remains one of
the most tightly regulated sectors in India. Yet paradoxically, it is one in which
quality varies dramatically and accountability is often weak. Deregulating the
education sector, while maintaining strong standards for learning outcomes and
child safety, would enable educators, innovators, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and
communities to build significantly more schools. This would introduce healthy
competition, foster innovation, and ensure that schools compete to deliver the best
possible standards at the most affordable price. When supply increases and
diversity of models emerges, the entire sector becomes more dynamic and
responsive.

Second, to ensure that such a system remains inclusive and does not exclude
children from low-income or marginalized communities, the government can use
Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) to support families that cannot afford school
fees. This is not a new idea; versions of it are being implemented worldwide with
great success. By shifting public spending from input-based subsidies to
student-centric funding, we empower parents, encourage accountability, and
ensure that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to
quality education.

This approach combines the efficiency of the market with the moral imperative of
equity. It ensures that no child is denied opportunity because of poverty. It aligns
with the NEP 2020’s core principle: “Education as a public good delivered
through a diverse ecosystem.”

Third, we must institutionalise the assessment of competency-based learning
outcomes. Until every child can read with comprehension and perform basic
arithmetic by Grade 3, no reform will have a lasting impact. Countries that
transformed their education systems, such as South Korea, Vietnam, and Poland,
did so by focusing relentlessly on early learning, teacher quality, and transparent
measurement. India must do the same. As our society ages, we must prepare for a
future where lifelong learning becomes essential. Upskilling, reskilling, and
vocational excellence must become integral to our education ecosystem, from
schools to universities to workplaces.

If India is to achieve the dream of Viksit Bharat, we must recognise that human
capital is the true currency of growth. Roads, ports, factories, and digital
infrastructure are vital, but they will take us only halfway. Our children are our
greatest asset. The India of 2047 will be built by the minds we nurture today. Let us
therefore commit ourselves to radical reforms that expand choice for students,
bring healthy competition among schools and make institutions accountable.

The journey is long, but the destination is worthy. And if we act boldly today, India
will not just become richer; it will become stronger, fairer, and truly Viksit.

Dr. Amit Chandra is a social development professional with expertise in research and outreach in the public policy space. His work in the past has been deeply focused on school education, urban livelihoods, and governance. Amit is the CEO of Delhi-based think tank Centre for Civil Society (CCS). He has also spent a year in Kabul working with The Asia Foundation (TAF) providing knowledge and technical support to the Ministry of Education, Afghanistan and worked with Central Square Foundation, Delhi in past.