National‍‌‍‍‌ Education Day is celebrated in India every year on November 11 in memory of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of the country and a strong supporter of education as a means of building the nation. It is a day when we not only remember his great work but also think about the progress of our education system and its future. 

The higher education environment in India has undergone significant changes since 1947: the establishment of new institutions, changes in policies, the adoption of digital technology, and efforts towards inclusion and innovation. We might as well travel through the significant changes to see how the system has developed in the 2025-26 era. 

Foundations After Independence 

India‍‌‍‍‌ made a big push for higher education after independence. The nation established significant commissions, such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), and numerous colleges and universities. Over time, the focus was on expanding access, establishing public universities, and increasing the number of seats. 

Nevertheless, just creating more institutions did not solve all the problems. There were deep structural issues in the system: inflexible curricula, subject-based, isolated units, limited interdisciplinary learning, and lower enrolment in many sections of society. 

Also read: 8 UGC Rules Every Online Degree Student Should Know in 2025-26

Access, Equity and Growth: Key Milestones 

By the mid-2010s, the higher education system in India was undergoing a significant change. 

A recent government document enumerates that the number of higher education institutions increased from approximately 51,534 in 2014-15 to more than 70,683 by May 2025. Universities alone expanded considerably, thus indicating the extent of the growth. 

The figures for 2025 also indicate that the number of women going for higher education has increased by 38% since 2014-15, and the gross enrolment ratio (GER) for females has even exceeded that of males. More significantly, the enrolment of students from Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes has also demonstrated a substantial rise. These developments are indicative of a higher education system that is becoming more and more ‍inclusive. 

Enter NEP 2020: A Turning Point 

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) introduced a sweeping set of reforms across school and higher education. Since its launch, implementation has gained pace. A 2025 India Today article describes how “higher education in India is entering a period of rapid transformation” under NEP 2020.  

Key features of the NEP relevant to higher education: 

• Multidisciplinary and flexible study paths. 
• Multiple entry/exit options for degrees. 
• Promotion of digital/online modes and blended learning. 
• Emphasis on vocational education, research, innovation and science-based skill building. 

As we observe National Education Day in 2025, the system is visibly shifting – moving from rigid, siloed structures to more open, flexible, future-ready formats. 

Digital & Structural Reforms: The 2025 Momentum 

Many‍ reforms, both structural and digital, have been instrumental in amplifying the change that has taken place in 2025-26: 

• The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme provides access to more than 13,000 journals to 6,300 government-owned academic and R&D institutes – a total of nearly 1.8 crore students and faculty members are getting the benefit.  
• Comprehensive‍‌‍‍‌ changes are being implemented to enhance teaching methods, curriculum development, and the use of technology in different educational ‍‌‍‍‌institutions. 
• HEIs are being facilitated to take up interdisciplinary methods and to deepen the research and innovation of culture. 

Summarizing, higher education is not just about increasing the number of seats anymore – it is mainly about the quality, the relevance, and global ‍‍‌competitiveness. 

Timeline of Indian Higher Education 

1953 – Establishment of UGC (University Grants Commission) 

UGC is set up to coordinate, determine, and maintain the standards of university education in India. 

1956 – UGC Becomes a Statutory Body 

The UGC Act, 1956 comes into force, giving UGC full authority to regulate higher education and fund universities. 

1960s-1980s – Expansion of Public Universities 

Significant growth in central and state universities, with increased focus on access and capacity building. 

1968 – The First National Policy on Education (NPE 1968) 

Focused on expanding higher education, improving its quality, and integrating scientific and vocational training with a goal of national development. 

1985 – Establishment of IGNOU 

Indira Gandhi National Open University is launched, marking a major step toward distance and open learning. 

1985 – The Second National Policy on Education (NPE 1986) 

Focused on expanding access to higher education and promoting quality. 

1994 – NAAC Founded 

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was formed to ensure quality benchmarks in higher education. 

2009 – Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) 

A centrally sponsored scheme is launched to improve quality, equity, and access across state universities. 

2014 – Digital India Push 

The government integrates digital platforms into higher education, improving technological access, and e-learning adoption. 

2016 – SWAYAM Launch 

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is introduced as India’s largest MOOC platform. 

2020 – National Education Policy (NEP 2020) 

A landmark reform introducing multidisciplinary learning, multiple entry/exit options, credit mobility, and strong digital integration. 

2020 – Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) 

ABC is introduced to digitally store academic credits and enable seamless mobility between institutions and programs. 

2021 – Online Degree Recognition Strengthened 

UGC allows recognized universities to offer full-fledged online degrees with equivalence to on-campus programs. 

2022 – National Digital University (NDU) Announcement 

A futuristic initiative focusing on access, affordability and learner-centric digital education. 

2023 – UGC CUET Mandate 

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) becomes the standard entrance exam for admissions to central universities. 

2024 – ONOS (One Nation, One Subscription) Rollout 

Government launches ONOS to provide free access to 13,000+ journals for students and researchers across Indian institutions. 

2025 – Updated UGC Online/ODL Regulations 

UGC enhances guidelines for online learning quality, introduces stricter recognition norms, improves transparency, and strengthens student protection. 

2025 – Surge in Online Degrees 

More universities adopt hybrid and online models; online degrees gain wider industry acceptance, supporting flexible, outcome-driven learning.

You may like to know more about Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)

Outcome-Centered Shifts: Why It Matters 

Why‍‌‍‍‌ is this change significant? Simply because the impact of higher education has changed. Before, the mission was mainly to increase the number of students attending colleges. However, the present focus is still more comprehensive: to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world of work, to free careers from narrow specialization, and to make Indian higher education internationally competitive. 

For learners, these changes signify: 

• More adaptable pathways: you could commence a degree, take a break, change your field, or leave with a certificate. 
• Higher relevance: syllabuses connected to industry, research, skills, and global challenges. 
• Internet access: courses available online, hybrid modes, and open educational ‍‌‍‍‌resources. 

Challenges Remain, But the Trajectory is Strong 

Of course, the road ahead is not without challenges. Among them: maintaining quality at scale, faculty development, research funding, regional disparities, bridging school to higher education transitions, and technology infrastructure. 

But even here, reforms show promise. For example, recruitment drives in higher education in states like Maharashtra show determination to fill faculty shortages and reinforce institutional capacity. These moves support the broader ecosystem required for strong higher education systems. 

The Rise of Online Education in India 

One of the most significant shifts in India’s higher education landscape over the past decade has been the rise of online learning. With the UGC strengthening recognition for online degrees and universities adopting digital-first strategies, online education has become a mainstream pathway for millions of learners across the country. 

UGC’s 2025-26 guidelines emphasize quality, equivalence and transparency, ensuring that online degrees hold the same academic value as on-campus programs. This has opened doors for working professionals, students from remote regions and career shifters who need flexibility without compromising academic credibility. 

Online education today is no longer limited to recorded lectures. Modern platforms offer: 

• Live interactive sessions with faculty 
• AI-enabled learning tools 
• Virtual labs, case simulations and project-based learning 
• Digital libraries and research access through initiatives like ONOS (One Nation, One Subscription 
• Personalized mentorship and career services 

This transformation has reshaped how learners engage with higher education, making it more accessible, inclusive, and future-ready. 

Online‍‌‍‍‌ Manipal: A Leader in the Digital Learning Ecosystem 

Online education is rapidly spreading all over India. One of the most trusted platforms that deliver high-quality, UGC-entitled online degrees is Online Manipal. Backed by the academic excellence of the Manipal Group for more than 70 years, Online Manipal creates a single digital learning ecosystem by combining three well-known universities – Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), and Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) – under a unified digital learning ecosystem. 

By blending academic heritage with modern digital tools, Online Manipal makes flexible, future-ready education accessible to learners everywhere, perfectly aligning with the inclusive spirit of National Education Day. 

Looking‍‌‍‍‌ Ahead: Higher Education in 2030 and Beyond 

What might higher education in India look like in 2030 or 2035? If we consider the trajectories that are going on now: 

• Hybrid/online programs will be there to a great extent, micro-credentials will be more popular, lifelong learning will be more practiced. 
• More campuses will be research-driven, they will have stronger international linkages, and their innovation output will be higher. 
• Higher Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) targets will be met or nearly achieved, and there will be more equitable access across regions and communities. 
• Students will be more mobile, and they will be able to switch programs, careers, and industries with ease. 
• The university will be transformed into a center of learning, research, innovation and entrepreneurship – not just classroom teaching. 

The pillars of the post-independence era, the growth phases of the early 2000s, and the NEP 2020 reforms all signal a new wave in higher education. This new era is characterized by increased flexibility, inclusivity, digital advancements, and a focus on being future-ready. 

Reference 

India’s higher education ecosytem has undergone fundamental transformation Pradhan at VC conference- The Week 

Higher education in 2025: Transformative trends shaping the next generation of learning – India Today