The representation of Indian Higher Educational Institutions on the global stage has been consistently increasing over the years in global ranking frameworks such as the QS World University Rankings (QS Rankings) and Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE Rankings).

In QS Ranking, the number of institutions increased from 9 in QS-2014 to 45 in QS-2024. Similarly, in THE Rankings, the number of ranked institutions increased from 4 in 2014 to 101 in 2023. The Government is committed to improving the quality of educational institutions in the country.

There are a large number of premier institutions and Institutions of National Importance like – the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISER), National Institutes of Technology (NIT), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and Central Universities. Consistent with their reputation in the global arena, IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have signed MoU for setting up their offshore campuses in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Abu Dhabi, UAE respectively.

Further, twelve institutions have been notified as Institutions of Eminence (IoE) to provide affordable world-class academic and research facilities in the country. (b) The number of foreign students coming to India is less than the number of Indian students who are going abroad for studies. However, the number of foreign students enrolled in our higher educational institutions has increased from 42,293 in 2014-15 to 48,035 in 2020-21 as per the report of the All India Survey on Higher Education.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) determines and maintains the standards of teaching, examination, and research in universities and issues rules, regulations, and guidelines from time to time. The UGC has also notified the University Grants Commission (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes) Regulations, 2022 which not only enable Indian students to obtain degrees from top-ranked foreign higher educational institutions at affordable cost but also make India an attractive global study destination.

National Educational Policy 2020 adopted by the Government envisions transforming the education system in the country. Several key initiatives/ reforms have been carried out in the higher education sector which include the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF); National Credit Framework (NCrF); multidisciplinary education; internship/ apprenticeship embedded degree programme; establishment of research & development cell in higher education institutions; multiple entry and exit in academic programmes; establishment of Academic Banks of Credit; common university entrance test etc.