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India Could Retain $113 Billion by Hosting Foreign University Campuses by 2040

A report by Deloitte India and Knight Frank India estimates India could retain $113 billion in foreign currency by 2040 by encouraging a stronger domestic presence for foreign universities. This shift, driven by the National Education Policy 2020, aims to transform India into a global knowledge hub as tertiary enrolment is projected to rise to 72 million by 2035. The report highlights a critical shortage of elite education seats, noting that IITs could offer only 18,000 seats against 54,000 qualified JEE candidates in 2025. Sustainability for foreign campuses depends on prioritizing academic portfolio over volume, with a focus on high-readiness hubs like Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

Key Points: India Could Save $113B via Foreign Universities: Report

  • Save $113B in foreign currency by 2040
  • Transform from student-exporter to knowledge hub
  • Need 19M sq. ft. of campus space
  • Focus on STEM, AI, and management programs
2 min read

India could retain $113 bn by 2040 via encouraging foreign presence in education: Report

A new report says India could retain $113 billion in foreign currency by 2040 by encouraging foreign university campuses, reducing education remittance outflows.

"India's education sector is undergoing a historic transformation. - Shishir Baijal"

New Delhi, Feb 26

By supporting a stronger domestic presence for foreign universities, India could retain an estimated $113 billion in foreign currency by 2040, with around 19 million sq. ft. of vertical campus space required for Foreign Higher Education Institutions, a report said on Thursday.

The report from Deloitte India and Knight Frank India said that foreign universities could significantly reduce the remittance outflows currently lost to overseas education.

The shift, driven by the National Education Policy 2020, is transforming India from a "student‑exporting nation to a global knowledge hub" as demand surges with 53 million students currently enrolled in tertiary education. To meet the government target of 50 per cent gross enrolment ratio by 2035, the enrolment will rise to about 72 million, the report estimated.

The report highlighted a stark mismatch as there is "a critical shortage of opportunities in elite education".

"In 2025, while approximately 54,000 students successfully cleared all levels of the JEE for engineering, the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) could only offer 18,000 seats, highlighting a stark mismatch between student aspirations and available high-quality infrastructure," the report said.

"India's education sector is undergoing a historic transformation. With 18 international universities already receiving approvals or commencing operations, the momentum is visible," said Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

The report suggested that sustainability of foreign campuses rests on prioritising academic portfolio over enrolment volume with focus on STEM, AI, data science and management.

The real estate services firm highlighted Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai as high-readiness hubs due to their corporate depth. Emerging Tier-2 cities like Chandigarh, Kochi, and Jaipur are also highlighted for their strong governance and infrastructure, it said.

Talent and governance success depend on building robust faculty pipelines and governance models that preserve academic autonomy while aligning with Indian regulations, the firms noted.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
$113 billion is a staggering amount of foreign exchange we can save. My cousin went to the US for his Masters and it cost our family a fortune. If he had a similar quality option in Bangalore or Pune, we would have definitely preferred that. Hope the fees are regulated to be affordable though.
R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but execution is key. We must ensure these foreign universities maintain the same academic standards as their home campuses and don't become just expensive degree shops. Also, what about our own universities? Shouldn't we be investing more in IITs, IIMs, and central universities to expand capacity?
S
Sarah B
As someone who works in higher ed, the focus on faculty pipelines is crucial. We can't just have buildings; we need world-class teachers and researchers. If these institutions attract global faculty and foster real research collaboration, it will benefit the entire Indian education ecosystem.
V
Vikram M
Including Tier-2 cities like Chandigarh and Jaipur is a smart move. It will boost local economies and reduce the insane migration pressure on Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Development should be more evenly spread. Hope the infrastructure in these cities is ready to support such campuses.
K
Kavya N
The report talks about academic autonomy aligning with Indian regulations. This is a delicate balance. We don't want unnecessary interference, but also need to ensure these institutions respect our cultural context and contribute to national goals. Cautiously optimistic! 🤞

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