Empower States To Fix India’s Higher Education Challenge: CEA At CII Summit

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran addressed the CII Global Higher Education Summit, stressing that the future of higher education reform in India depends largely on decisive action by state governments. Highlighting that universities, colleges and faculty appointments are primarily governed at the state level, he called for a shift from control to stewardship, greater academic and administrative autonomy, and urgent action to address faculty shortages. Nageswaran advocated outcome-based accreditation, flexible faculty appointments drawing from industry and public service, and an entrepreneurial approach to governance. He also emphasised differentiated funding models and deeper industry engagement to improve graduate employability, research quality and social impact.