India Education News - June 20, 2025

What’s good in Indian education today? From global universities setting up shop to school rankings and new programs, here’s the lowdown on what’s shaping the classroom scene. Let’s get into it.

Foreign Universities Dropping Roots in India

Big moves for higher education—five top-tier foreign universities are setting up campuses in Navi Mumbai and Chennai, with admissions kicking off in 2026. The University of Aberdeen (Scotland) got the green light for a Mumbai campus, marking the first Scottish uni in India. Others like the University of York, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Italy’s Instituto Europeo Di Design are also joining the party under the “Mumbai Rising: International Education City” project. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says this aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to make India a global study hub. These unis rank higher than most Indian institutes, so expect a boost in academic quality and some serious cultural exchange.

The University of Southampton (UK) is already prepping to start classes in Gurugram from August 2025, and the University of Liverpool is eyeing Bengaluru for 2026. This is a game-changer, letting students get world-class degrees without leaving India.

School Education Rankings: Who’s Killing It?

The 2023-24 Performance Grading Index (PGI) for school education dropped recently, and Chandigarh, Punjab, and Delhi are leading the pack in learning outcomes, equity, and infrastructure. Chandigarh hit the fifth-highest grade (Prachesta-1), while Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, and Kerala are at the seventh level. Meghalaya’s lagging behind at the lowest rank, scoring 417.9 out of 1,000, with Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma blaming outdated data and technical issues like counting one campus as multiple schools. He’s optimistic about reforms, though. East Khasi Hills topped Meghalaya’s districts with 212 points, while North Garo Hills trailed at 155.

Push for Indian Languages in Education

Union Minister Amit Shah’s out here hyping Indian languages, saying those who only speak English might feel left out soon as cultural identity takes center stage. This ties into the NEP 2020 push for local languages in classrooms. But some states are pushing back, arguing it’s a move to impose Hindi, sparking a debate over linguistic diversity and federal principles.

New Programs and Collabs

• Med-Tech Hackathon: JIPMER Puducherry and IIT-Bombay launched INCUBATE 2025, a hackathon to get medical and engineering students innovating healthcare solutions.
• Monash Innovation Program: JBCN Education and Monash University (Australia) brought 53 high-schoolers together to tackle real-world problems through design thinking.
• Rail Safety Education: Medhavi Skills University signed an MoU with the All India Rail Safety Council for a Global Centre of Excellence in Rail Safety, offering UG and PG programs online and on-campus.
• Rural Education Boost: Shoolini University’s Centre for Distance and Online Education partnered with Common Service Centers to bring higher education to rural India.
• National Automobile Olympiad: The Automotive Skills Development Council and CBSE kicked off the fourth edition of NAO 2025, open to students from Class 6 to 12.

Board Exam Wins and Gender Shifts

Fewer students are failing Class 10 and 12 board exams, and more girls are jumping into the science stream, showing a shift in trends. This is a big W for inclusivity and academic progress.

Higher Education Growth

Over the last 11 years, higher education registrations jumped 30.5%, from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.46 crore in 2022-23. The NEP 2020 is getting credit for driving this growth, with QS World University Rankings 2026 showing 54 Indian institutes, led by IIT Delhi. IISc Bangalore topped India’s unis in the US News 2025 Global Rankings, followed by IIT Madras and TIFR Mumbai.

Healthcare Education on the Rise

Hospital and healthcare management is blowing up as a career path. GITAM University’s new MBA in Healthcare and Hospital Management, in collab with AP MedTech Zone and AHA, is training pros to meet India’s growing healthcare demands.

Challenges: Equity and Teacher Shortages

Despite an 80.9% literacy rate, India’s got gaps—rural kids and women, especially in states like Rajasthan and Bihar, are still left behind, per the 2023-24 PLFS data. Meanwhile, private-aided schools in Maharashtra are struggling with a teacher shortage, with 10,000 posts vacant due to delayed recruitment. Schools kicked off the new year with ad hoc staff, and the Maharashtra Headmasters’ Association is pressing for action.

Study Abroad Woes

Indian students are rethinking the U.S. for higher education due to Trump’s visa crackdowns, including paused interviews and social media checks. Over 330,000 Indian students are in U.S. institutions, but many are now eyeing the UK or Singapore for stability.

Wrap-Up

India’s education game is leveling up with global unis, better school rankings, and new programs, but there’s work to do on equity and staffing. If you want me to zoom in on something specific or throw together a chart, let me know!

Sources: Web reports and X posts (filtered for accuracy).