This page compares the education systems of Sweden and India.
Education System Overview
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public/private mix; governance is decentralized. Municipalities operate most public schools, while publicly funded independent schools (friskolor) may be run by private providers. National legislation, curricula and standards apply across the system. Independent schools follow the national education requirements and receive public funding through municipal arrangements. | Public/private mix; governance is shared between the Union government and States/Union Territories (UTs). Education is on the Constitution's Concurrent List, allowing both levels of government to legislate on education. States and UTs administer much of school provision, while national bodies establish policies, standards and central programmes. [MoE] |
| Governing Body | Ministry of Education and Research; Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket); municipalities; and the Swedish Schools Inspectorate for supervision and authorization of independent schools. The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) oversees quality assurance and legal supervision in higher education. [Swedish Schools Inspectorate] | Ministry of Education, through the Department of School Education & Literacy and the Department of Higher Education, together with State/UT education departments. Other bodies include the NCERT, CBSE, University Grants Commission (UGC), AICTE and NCTE, each with responsibilities within its statutory or administrative remit. [MoE] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 7.3% of GDP in 2024, according to Eurostat's general government expenditure statistics, which classify education expenditure under COFOG. The separate OECD education-finance series reports government expenditure of 5.8% of GDP in 2023 for primary through tertiary education, including expenditure inside and outside educational institutions. These measures have different coverage and should not be compared as a single time series. [Eurostat] [OECD] | 4.1% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank indicator sourced from UNESCO UIS. The measure covers general government education expenditure, including current and capital spending and transfers, across education levels. It differs from the Union government's education budget alone because it includes expenditure by State and local governments. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | From the autumn term of the year a child turns 6 until completion of compulsory school, normally around age 16. Preschool class has been compulsory since 2018. From autumn 2028, the separate preschool class will be replaced by the first year of a ten-year compulsory school, without changing the usual starting age. [Skolverket] | Ages 6–14. Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 establish the legal entitlement to free elementary education for this age group. The National Education Policy 2020 addresses education from ages 3–18, but it has not extended the nationwide statutory compulsory-schooling age to 18. [India Code] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 10 years: one compulsory preschool-class year followed by nine years of compulsory school. The approved restructuring will create a single ten-year compulsory school from autumn 2028, replacing preschool class with a new Year 1 and renumbering the existing school years. The total compulsory duration remains ten years. [Skolverket] | 8 years of elementary education, normally covering Classes I–VIII and the statutory ages 6–14. [India Code] |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional before compulsory preschool class. In 2024, ECEC enrollment was 95% at age 3, 96% at age 4 and 96% at age 5. Children are generally entitled to public preschool from age one under applicable conditions, and all children are entitled to at least 525 hours of free preschool annually from the autumn term of the year they turn three. [OECD] | Not compulsory nationally. Pre-school provision includes Anganwadi centres, government-school pre-primary sections, Balvatika classes, private preschools and other early learning services. NEP 2020 incorporates three years of pre-school education into the Foundational Stage. In UDISE+ 2025–26, total school enrollment, including pre-primary, reached approximately 24.72 crore (247.2 million) students. This is a combined school-system figure, not a pre-primary enrollment rate. [Samagra Shiksha] [UDISE+] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | 1 + 9 + 3: one year of compulsory preschool class, nine years of compulsory school and three years of upper-secondary education. Upper-secondary education is generally voluntary. From autumn 2028, the compulsory portion changes structurally to 10 + 3, with ten years of compulsory school followed by three years of upper-secondary education. [Skolverket] | 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 under NEP 2020: Foundational Stage (three years of pre-school plus Classes I–II), Preparatory Stage (Classes III–V), Middle Stage (Classes VI–VIII) and Secondary Stage (Classes IX–XII). The structure spans ages 3–18. It is a pedagogical organization; traditional primary, upper-primary, secondary and higher-secondary school classifications remain in use for administration and reporting. [MoE] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | Among students in national upper-secondary programs in 2025/26, approximately 34% were enrolled in vocational programs and 66% in higher-education preparatory programs. Around 338,000 students attended national programs, with vocational enrollment increasing by approximately 4% from the previous academic year. The percentages exclude students in introductory programs. [Skolverket] | No single comparable nationwide split is available for all upper secondary students. Vocational subjects may be offered within general secondary schools, and students can pursue vocational programmes through schools, training institutions and other pathways. These arrangements do not produce a simple division between separate general and vocational high school sectors. |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August, with exact dates determined by municipalities and school organizers. | April–June in many State/UT school systems, with regional differences. CBSE-affiliated schools commonly follow an April–March academic session, while some states use June starts or other schedules. India does not have one nationwide first day of school. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June, with local variation in the final school day. | March–May, depending on the State/UT, school board and local calendar. CBSE examination schedules and State Board calendars may differ from the dates used for regular classroom teaching. |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 36–38 five-day school weeks, corresponding to the statutory range of 178–190 compulsory-school days. Actual calendars include school holidays and may differ between municipalities. [Skolverket] | No single nationwide figure. Under the Right to Education Act, the statutory minimum is 200 working days for Classes I–V and 220 for Classes VI–VIII. The corresponding number of weeks depends on the school's weekly timetable and holiday calendar. [India Code] |
| Instruction Days per Year | At least 178 school days per academic year in compulsory school; compulsory activities may not exceed 190 days. Up to five additional staff development days may be scheduled separately. [Skolverket] | 200 minimum working days for Classes I–V and 220 minimum working days for Classes VI–VIII under the RTE schedule. The Act also specifies minimum annual instructional hours of 800 and 1,000, respectively. No single statutory nationwide working-day figure covers all Classes IX–XII. [India Code] |
Grading System
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | A–F: A is the highest grade, E is the lowest passing grade and F is a failing grade. Upper-secondary students beginning education after 30 June 2025 receive subject-level grades under Gy25, while the A–F grading scale remains in use. A new 1–10 numerical grading scale is scheduled for compulsory and upper-secondary education from 2028, with national final examinations introduced in later stages. [Skolverket] [Skolverket] | No single national grading scale. Marks, letter grades and assessment rules differ among State/UT boards, CBSE, CISCE and other recognized examination boards. CBSE commonly uses a nine-point grading scale in relevant secondary school reporting, alongside subject marks. Passing requirements depend on the examination and board regulations. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Institution-specific; common systems include U/G/VG (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction) and other institution- or course-specific letter or numerical scales. Some institutions use an A–F scale or ECTS-compatible grade reporting. | No uniform national scale. Universities use institution-specific percentages, letter grades and cumulative grade point averages (CGPA), commonly on a 10-point scale. Conversion and degree-award requirements are determined by institutional academic regulations. |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | Swedish is the main language of instruction. English may be used in approved international or bilingual educational settings, subject to national school regulations. | Hindi, English and State/regional languages are widely used. The medium of instruction varies by State/UT, school board and institution. NEP 2020 promotes teaching in the home language, mother tongue or local/regional language during the early grades wherever practicable. [MoE] |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Sweden's national minority languages are Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib, Sami and Yiddish. Mother-tongue instruction and minority-language education are available under specific statutory conditions. Sami-language education is also provided through the separate Sami school system (sameskolan). | India's 22 Eighth Schedule languages include several languages used as school instructional media. Regional and minority-language provision varies by State/UT, including Urdu and other locally recognized languages. No single nationwide list of instructional media applies to every school. CBSE began a phased introduction of a third language (R3) in selected grades during the 2026–27 session, with further expansion scheduled in subsequent years. [MoE] [CBSE] |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Compulsory school: 84% attended municipally operated schools in 2025/26, up from 83% in 2024/25. At upper-secondary level, approximately 67% of students in national programs attended schools with public organizers in 2025/26. These are level-specific percentages rather than a single combined K–12 enrollment share. [Skolverket] [Skolverket] | 49.7% of students in Classes I–XII attended government-managed schools in 2025–26. Government-aided schools accounted for another 10.5%. These categories are reported separately in UDISE+ and should not be combined when comparing institutions strictly by school management. [UDISE+] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | SEK 0. Municipal and publicly funded independent compulsory schools are tuition-free for students. Publicly funded upper-secondary education is also tuition-free for eligible students. Families may still have personal expenses outside standard tuition. | INR 0 for elementary education covered by the Right to Education Act for children aged 6–14. Charges beyond the RTE-covered stage depend on State/UT rules and the particular government school system. Government programmes may also provide textbooks, meals, uniforms or other assistance to eligible students. [India Code] |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes; municipalities are responsible for providing access to compulsory education throughout Sweden. Small and rural municipalities may organize school transport or other arrangements to meet their obligations. | Yes. Government-managed schools operate throughout India's States and Union Territories. UDISE+ recorded approximately 1.005 million government schools among 1,466,682 schools nationwide in 2025–26. School access, transport and availability at individual educational stages vary by locality. [UDISE+] |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | Compulsory school: 16% attended independent schools in 2025/26, down from 17% in 2024/25. Independent schools enrolled more than 179,000 compulsory-school pupils. At upper-secondary level, approximately 33% of students in national programs attended independently operated schools in 2025/26. These schools are predominantly publicly funded rather than tuition-financed private schools. [Skolverket] [Skolverket] | 38.0% of students in Classes I–XII were enrolled in recognized private unaided schools in 2025–26. Other school-management categories accounted for the remaining students outside government, government-aided and private unaided institutions. [UDISE+] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | Independent schools operate across Sweden, with provision differing by municipality and neighborhood. In 2025/26, approximately 65% of independent compulsory-school units were located in areas classified as having favorable or very favorable socioeconomic conditions, compared with 59% of municipal school units. This comparison describes school locations, not the socioeconomic backgrounds of all enrolled pupils. [Skolverket] | Nationwide, with extensive provision in large urban areas such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Private schools also serve smaller cities and rural districts. Their enrollment share varies substantially across States/UTs and between urban and rural areas. |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | No single verified national total covers all international-curriculum schools. Counts differ according to whether schools offering IB, Cambridge International and foreign national curricula are included, especially when schools offer more than one programme. |
| Number of IB World Schools | 46 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in Sweden. [IB] | 277 IB World Schools currently offer at least one International Baccalaureate programme in India. The IB country directory lists 187 Primary Years Programme (PYP) providers, 84 Middle Years Programme (MYP) providers, 198 Diploma Programme (DP) providers and 43 Career-related Programme (CP) providers. Schools offering multiple programmes are counted only once in the national total. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate (IB), including Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related Programmes, and school-specific international or bilingual curricula. English-medium instruction is available in selected international schools. | IB Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related Programmes; Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and International AS & A Level programmes. International curricula are offered by authorized schools, sometimes alongside CBSE, CISCE or State Board pathways. [IB] [Cambridge] |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | A recognized teaching degree and teacher certification are required for permanent employment and independent grading in most teaching positions. Requirements vary by school level and subject, with statutory exceptions for certain staffing situations and teaching assignments. [Skolverket] | Stage-appropriate NCTE-recognized qualifications and teacher-education preparation are required, together with applicable Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and recruitment requirements. Eligibility varies by teaching stage, school system and appointing authority. [NCTE] |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | Approximately 20 students per class in 2024, using the OECD's comparable measure across public and private institutions. The corresponding averages were approximately 21 students in public institutions and 19 in private institutions. [OECD] | — |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | Approximately 22 students per class in 2024 across public and private lower-secondary institutions. Public-school classes averaged about 22 students, while private-school classes averaged about 21. [OECD] | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2009+, with participation limited to Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh. India has not participated in the national PISA cycles of 2018, 2022 or 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 502 / 506 / 499 [OECD] | Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2018. |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 482 / 487 / 494 [OECD] | Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2022. |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 464 / 466 / 485 [OECD] | Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Sweden has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics performance declined by 18 points and reading by 21 points, while the eight-point science decrease was not statistically clear. The 2025 mathematics and reading results were the lowest recorded for Sweden in PISA. Students also averaged 503 points in computational problem solving, compared with an OECD average of 500. [OECD] [Skolverket] | No national trend series is available. India's recorded participation was limited to the subnational PISA 2009+ assessment. Results cannot be compared with recent national PISA cycles because India did not participate in them. |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science — 485 points. The science result was close to the OECD average and did not differ statistically from Sweden's 2022 performance. [OECD] | Not available; India has no PISA 2025 subject scores. |
Higher Education System
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 50 universities, university colleges and independent higher education providers in the official 2026 sector overview. The total includes institutions with different legal status and degree-awarding powers. [UKÄ] | 64,756 registered institutions in AISHE 2023–24: 1,289 universities/university-level institutions, 48,246 colleges and 15,221 stand-alone institutions. Of the registered institutions, 59,533 participated in the survey. Higher education enrollment reached approximately 45.0 million students, with a gross enrollment ratio of 30.0% for ages 18–23. [AISHE] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 18 universities in the official higher education classification, including 16 public-sector universities and two independent institutions with university status. The category includes both broadly focused and specialized universities; it is not limited to a separate statutory research-university designation. [UKÄ] | 1,289 universities and university-level institutions registered in AISHE 2023–24. India does not classify all these institutions under one separate national research-university category. Research-intensive institutions include the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), central universities and other public and private universities. [AISHE] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 12 university colleges, plus 5 university colleges of fine, applied and performing arts classified separately in the official higher education overview. These categories should not be combined with the separate higher vocational education sector (yrkeshögskolan). [UKÄ] | 48,246 registered colleges and 15,221 stand-alone institutions in AISHE 2023–24. India does not maintain a separate nationwide university-of-applied-sciences category comparable to some European systems. Applied and professional education is provided through colleges, polytechnics, technical institutes and universities. [AISHE] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities, university colleges, university colleges of fine, applied and performing arts, and independent higher education providers. Higher vocational education institutions operate under a separate education system and are not included in the university-sector institution count. [UKÄ] | Central universities, State universities, private universities, deemed-to-be universities, institutions of national importance, affiliated colleges, autonomous colleges, polytechnics and specialized professional institutions. The AISHE statistical categories group these into universities/university-level institutions, colleges and stand-alone institutions. [AISHE] |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | Public and private institutions both serve large student populations. Enrollment depends on university, college and stand-alone institution management categories. A single verified ownership percentage covering the entire AISHE 2023–24 institutional population is not provided here. |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | More than 1,000 English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes are offered across Swedish higher education institutions, according to the European Education Area's country information. The number varies with the admission cycle and includes programmes at both degree levels, with most English-taught options concentrated at master's level. [European Education Area] | No single verified nationwide programme count. English is widely used in engineering, medicine, management, science and postgraduate education. Universities also provide degree programmes in Hindi and State/regional languages. Programme numbers and language requirements vary by institution. |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | No verified national percentage. Hindi and State/regional languages are used in undergraduate and other higher education programmes, but the share varies by institution, field and state. English-medium programmes remain common, particularly in technical and professional education. |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | — | No single comparable nationwide percentage is available for all bachelor's and master's degree programmes. Institutions may offer English-medium, regional-language or bilingual instruction. |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. India has 52 ranked institutions in this edition, compared with 54 in QS 2026. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 3 in QS 2027: Lund University (#71), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (#82) and Uppsala University (#87). [QS] | 0 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. India's highest-ranked institution is Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (#118), followed by IIT Bombay (#=134) and IIT Madras (#170). [QS] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 8 in QS 2027. In addition to the three top-100 institutions, Stockholm University, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Linköping University and Umeå University ranked within the top 500. [QS] | 11 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, University of Delhi, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, Shoolini University and Anna University. [QS] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | 8 in QS 2027. Malmö University was also ranked in the full QS listing, but outside the global top 1,000. Subject-specific rankings are not included in this count. [QS] | 37 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, out of 52 Indian institutions appearing in the full ranking. [QS] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ), responsible for quality assurance, legal supervision, degree-awarding powers and analysis of Swedish higher education. [UKÄ] | National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for institutional accreditation and National Board of Accreditation (NBA) for specified professional and technical programmes. Other statutory and professional regulators oversee applicable institutional and programme requirements. [UGC] [NBA] |
| International Students (Total) | Approximately 48,750 incoming students were enrolled in Swedish higher education in 2025/26, including exchange students and independently mobile students (freemovers). This was an increase of approximately 1,850 students, or 4%, from 2024/25. Around 28,370 students were new incoming students during 2025/26; that smaller number represents first-time entrants rather than total international enrollment. [UKÄ] | 58,134 foreign students enrolled in Indian higher education in 2023–24, according to AISHE. This is the national survey count rather than the number of international students admitted in a single academic intake. [AISHE] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | — | Approximately 0.13% in 2023–24, calculated from 58,134 foreign students among approximately 45.0 million higher education students reported by AISHE. The percentage is based on the national foreign-student measure, not the OECD's internationally mobile student definition. [AISHE] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | SEK 0 for Swedish, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens under the general tuition-fee rules for bachelor's and master's education at public higher education institutions. Certain other students qualify for exemptions based on residence status. Course materials, accommodation and living costs are not included. [University Admissions] | No uniform national tuition rate. Fees depend on the institution, degree and student category. For example, IIT Delhi's 2026 undergraduate tuition is INR 100,000 per semester, equivalent to INR 200,000 annually for standard B.Tech., B.Des. and B.S. programmes before applicable exemptions. Students from SC/ST categories and students with disabilities are eligible for specified tuition exemptions, with income-based concessions available to other eligible students. Admission, hostel and other institutional charges are separate. [IIT Delhi] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | For students required to pay tuition, the indicative national range is approximately SEK 80,000–295,000 per academic year, with an average around SEK 129,000. Fees depend on the institution, subject and programme. Fee-paying applicants generally also pay an application fee of SEK 900. Doctoral study is subject to different funding arrangements, and eligible students may receive tuition exemptions or scholarships. [European Education Area] | No nationwide international tuition rate. Institutions set fees under their own regulations, with some publishing international fees in foreign currencies. At IIT Delhi, the 2026 undergraduate tuition for foreign nationals is USD 1,000 per semester for SAARC-country students and USD 2,000 per semester for students from other countries. Foreign postgraduate and doctoral students are charged the applicable Indian-student tuition rates under the published prospectus. Japan-style or EU/non-EU tuition categories do not apply nationally in India. [IIT Delhi] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | Approximately SEK 80,000–295,000 per academic year for fee-paying international students, with an average of about SEK 129,000. English-taught master's programmes are widely available, but tuition is determined by programme and institution rather than by language alone. Students who qualify for the general tuition exemption normally pay no tuition for these programmes. [European Education Area] | No separate nationwide English-medium tuition rate. Fees depend on the degree, institution and student category rather than the teaching language alone. For example, standard domestic undergraduate tuition at IIT Delhi is INR 200,000 annually before exemptions, while other public universities and private institutions have different fee schedules. [IIT Delhi] |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | SEK 0 for eligible residents attending municipally funded Swedish for Immigrants (svenska för invandrare, SFI). Private Swedish-language courses charge separate provider-specific fees, so there is no single nationwide monthly rate. Since 1 January 2026, SFI participation normally has a three-year limit from admission, with extensions available under specified circumstances. [Swedish Public Employment Service] [Skolverket] | No comparable national monthly fee. Hindi, English and regional-language courses are provided by universities, private institutes and specialized language centres. Fees depend on the language, course duration, intensity and provider, and are often quoted by course or term rather than as a standard monthly charge. |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Sweden | India |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Sweden operates a decentralized public/private education system under national legislation and curricula, with municipalities responsible for most public-school provision and publicly funded independent schools providing an alternative. Compulsory education currently begins with preschool class in the year a child turns six and continues through nine years of compulsory school, giving a standard compulsory duration of 10 years. Upper-secondary education normally lasts three years and includes both vocational and higher-education preparatory programs; vocational pathways accounted for 34% of national-program enrollment in 2025/26. Publicly funded schooling is tuition-free, while independent schools enrolled 16% of compulsory-school pupils in 2025/26. In PISA 2025, Sweden scored 464 in mathematics, 466 in reading and 485 in science; mathematics and reading reached their lowest recorded levels, while science remained statistically close to 2022. Higher education includes 50 institutions in the official sector classification, including 18 universities and 12 university colleges. Incoming international students reached approximately 48,750 in 2025/26. Current school changes include Gy25 subject grading, revised preschool requirements and the nationwide mobile-free rule introduced in August 2026. A ten-year compulsory-school structure and new numerical grading scale are scheduled to begin in 2028, while the total duration of compulsory education will remain unchanged. | India operates a mixed federal education system in which education is a Concurrent List subject shared by the Union and States/UTs. The Ministry of Education sets national policy and administers central schemes, while States and UTs manage much of school provision. Free and compulsory elementary education covers ages 6–14 under the Right to Education Act. NEP 2020 organizes schooling around a 5+3+3+4 pedagogical structure spanning ages 3–18. In UDISE+ 2025–26, India recorded approximately 24.72 crore students across 14.67 lakh schools, with more than 1.02 crore teachers. Among Classes I–XII students, 49.7% attended government-managed schools, 10.5% attended government-aided schools and 38.0% attended recognized private unaided schools. The International Baccalaureate directory listed 277 IB World Schools. India's PISA participation was limited to the subnational PISA 2009+ assessment in Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh; no national PISA 2018, 2022 or 2025 results are available. AISHE 2023–24 recorded 64,756 registered higher education institutions, including 1,289 universities/university-level institutions, 48,246 colleges and 15,221 stand-alone institutions. Higher education enrollment reached approximately 45 million students, including 58,134 foreign students. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, India had 52 ranked institutions, led by IIT Delhi at #118. Recent changes include the introduction of two CBSE Class X board examination opportunities in 2026, mandatory Kaushal Bodh in Classes VI–VIII, Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence in Classes III–VIII, and expanded access to academic journals through One Nation One Subscription. [MoE] |