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Switzerland vs India (Comparing Education Systems 2026)

Updated: November 13, 2026 View update notes
India – Country Data: Updated India’s IB school count to 277, CBSE Class X examinations, and higher education figures.
Switzerland – Country Data: Updated preschool participation, vocational enrollment, international student shares, university fees in CHF, and higher education counts.
Switzerland – Country Data: Updated Switzerland’s PISA 2025 scores, vocational enrollment, QS 2027 rankings, tuition ranges, and 2026 education reforms.

This page compares the education systems of Switzerland and India.

Education System Overview

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Education System Overview
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
System TypePublic/private mix with a federal, decentralized governance model. The 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory education, while the Confederation and cantons share responsibilities in vocational education, higher education and other post-compulsory sectors. [EDK]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 Body26 cantonal education authorities; the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK); and, at federal level, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). [EDK]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)4.9% of GDP in 2022, the latest available value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. The separate OECD education-finance series reports 4.4% of GDP in 2023 for government expenditure on primary through tertiary education; the two indicators have different coverage. [World Bank] [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

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Compulsory Age RangeCompulsory education generally begins at about age 4 and continues to about age 15. Starting rules and transition dates can vary by canton. [EDK]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)11 years of compulsory education. [EDK]8 years of elementary education, normally covering Classes I–VIII and the statutory ages 6–14. [India Code]
Pre-primary Education (ECE) AccessIn most cantons, the first two years of compulsory education are kindergarten or the first learning cycle. OECD data show that 50.2% of children aged 3–5 were enrolled in ISCED 0 early childhood education in 2024. Participation varies sharply by age: only 2.2% of three-year-olds were enrolled in ISCED 0, while participation becomes much more widespread as children reach compulsory-school age. [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)2 + 6 + 3 within compulsory education: two years of kindergarten or the first learning cycle, six additional primary years and three years of lower secondary education. Upper-secondary education follows as a post-compulsory route, generally lasting 3–4 years. [EDK]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 (%)Approximately 60.7% vocational / 39.3% general among upper-secondary students in 2024. Vocational education and training remains the larger upper-secondary route, with apprenticeships accounting for most vocational participation. [OECD]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

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Academic Year Start (Typical Month)Typically August, although the exact opening date varies by canton and local school calendar.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)Typically June or July, depending on the canton.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 YearUsually about 38–39 weeks across compulsory education in most cantons. Individual cantonal calendars and school-level requirements may differ. [EDK]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—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

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Grading System
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Primary/Secondary Grading ScaleA 1–6 scale is widely used, with 6 as the highest mark and 4 generally representing a passing result. Assessment and reporting rules vary by canton and school level.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 ScaleCommonly 1.0–6.0, with 4.0 generally the minimum passing mark and 6.0 the highest grade. Individual institutions determine detailed assessment rules. [ETH Zurich]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

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Language of Instruction
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Primary Instruction Languages (K–12)German, French, Italian or Romansh, depending on the language region and canton. Students normally also study another national language and English during compulsory education. [EDK]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)Romansh is used in parts of Graubünden, while bilingual German/French and other bilingual models operate in selected cantons and schools.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)

Switzerland and India education system comparison: School Provision & Access (K–12)
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students)There is no single public-school share that applies equally across all K–12 levels. At compulsory level, about 95% of pupils attend public schools. At upper-secondary level, public institutions educate roughly five-sixths of students. [EDK]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)CHF 0; public compulsory education is free of charge. Cantonal and municipal authorities fund the standard provision, although families may still pay for some optional activities or personal expenses. [EDK]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 AvailabilityYes. Cantons and municipalities provide public compulsory education throughout Switzerland, with local organization reflecting the country's cantonal system. [EDK]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)Approximately 5% at compulsory level. At upper-secondary level, private institutions educate about one-sixth of students. These level-specific shares should not be treated as a single weighted K–12 percentage. [FSO]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)Private schools are more common in densely populated areas. International and boarding schools are particularly visible around Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and Basel and in established boarding-school locations. [FSO]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)

Switzerland and India education system comparison: International Schools (K–12)
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
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 Schools53 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Switzerland, according to the International Baccalaureate's country directory. [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 OfferedInternational Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge and British qualifications, American curricula, French programs and bilingual Swiss programs, depending on the school.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)

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools)A recognized tertiary teacher-education qualification appropriate to the level taught. Teacher education is provided mainly through universities of teacher education and leads to a recognized teaching diploma, usually alongside a bachelor's or master's degree. OECD reporting for 2023/24 found that 11.5% of teachers in public primary and lower-secondary education did not meet the full qualification criteria for their assigned teaching role; this category can include qualified teachers working outside their certified subject or education level. [EDK] [OECD]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 19 students per class in public primary education (years 3–8). Federal Statistical Office reporting for 2024 places the long-running national average at around 19.1–19.3 pupils per class, with differences between cantons. [FSO]—
Average Class Size (Lower Secondary)Approximately 19 students per class in public lower-secondary education. Federal Statistical Office data for 2024 show a stable long-term national average of approximately 18.6–19.0 pupils per class, with cantonal differences. [FSO]—
Average Class Size (Upper Secondary)——

System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)

Switzerland and India education system comparison: System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
PISA Participation Years2000, 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)515 / 484 / 495Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2018.
PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)508 / 483 / 503 [OECD]Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2022.
PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science)499 / 470 / 501 [OECD]Not available. India did not participate in PISA 2025. [OECD]
PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025Between 2022 and 2025, mathematics and reading performance was lower, while science was about the same. Science remained broadly stable between 2015 and 2025, while mathematics and reading declined over that period. The 2025 mathematics and reading scores were the lowest recorded for Switzerland in PISA. Switzerland nevertheless remained above the OECD average in all three subjects, and its computational problem-solving score was 520 in 2025, against an OECD average of 500. [OECD]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 — 501 points, narrowly above mathematics at 499. [OECD]Not available; India has no PISA 2025 subject scores.

Higher Education System

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Higher Education System
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total)54 listed entries in the current swissuniversities directory of accredited higher education institutions and other accredited institutions in the higher education sector. The directory comprises 12 universities and federal institutes of technology, 10 universities of applied sciences, 18 teacher-education institutions or units and 14 other institutions. Some entries are affiliated with larger institutions, so this directory count is not identical to the number of independent institutional operators. [swissuniversities]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)12 universities: 10 cantonal universities and the two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL. [swissuniversities]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 / Colleges10 universities of applied sciences. The current swissuniversities accreditation directory also lists 18 teacher-education institutions or units separately, including some affiliated with universities of applied sciences. [swissuniversities]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 TypesUniversities and federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited higher-education institutions. Tertiary professional education operates alongside the higher-education sector.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 OwnershipApproximately 92.5% in public or government-dependent provision / 7.5% in independent private institutions in 2023. Government-dependent private institutions are included with publicly supported provision in this comparison, rather than with independent private institutions. [OECD]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)—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 UsedQS 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: ETH Zurich (=8), EPFL (=22) and University of Zurich (=98). [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 Swiss institutions in QS 2027: ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich, University of Basel, University of Geneva, University of Bern, University of Lausanne and Università della Svizzera italiana. [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)10 Swiss institutions in QS 2027, including the eight top-500 institutions plus the University of Fribourg and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). [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)Swiss Accreditation Council, with accreditation procedures carried out by recognized agencies including the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ). The Council makes institutional accreditation decisions under the Higher Education Act. [Swiss Accreditation Council]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)—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 (%)20.1% in 2024, according to the OECD's internationally mobile or foreign tertiary-student indicator, up from approximately 17% in 2015. Germany and France each accounted for about 19% of incoming international students, followed by Italy at 11%. [OECD] [OECD 2026]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)

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Education Costs (Indicative)
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency)For 2026/27, published regular bachelor's and master's tuition at Swiss universities ranges from approximately CHF 870 to CHF 4,000 per academic year, before additional compulsory fees. The lower end is represented by the University of Geneva (CHF 435 per semester), while Università della Svizzera italiana charges CHF 2,000 per semester. ETH Zurich and EPFL list standard domestic tuition of CHF 730 per semester, or CHF 1,460 annually. Fees vary by institution, degree level and individual circumstances. [swissuniversities]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 2026/27, published foreign-student tuition at Swiss universities ranges from approximately CHF 870 to CHF 8,000 per academic year, before additional compulsory fees. The University of Geneva lists CHF 435 per semester for both domestic and foreign students, while Università della Svizzera italiana lists CHF 4,000 per semester for foreign students. ETH Zurich and EPFL list CHF 2,190 per semester for students subject to their higher foreign-student rate. Eligibility for different fees depends on university rules, residency or educational background and applicable exemptions; there is no single nationwide non-EU tuition rate. [swissuniversities]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)—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)—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

Switzerland and India education system comparison: Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
CategorySwitzerlandIndia
2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms
  • Vocational education reform: The revised Federal Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act entered into force in 2004, beginning the modernization of federally regulated initial vocational qualifications. [SERI]
  • Language coordination: The cantons adopted a national language-teaching strategy in 2004, elements of which were later incorporated into the HarmoS Agreement. [EDK]
  • HarmoS Agreement: The Intercantonal Agreement on Harmonisation of Compulsory Education was adopted in 2007 and entered into force on 1 August 2009, coordinating major structural elements of compulsory education among participating cantons. [EDK]
  • Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched in 2001–02 to support universal elementary education, school access and related infrastructure. [MoE]
  • The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A, establishing free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 as a constitutional right. [Legislative Department]
  • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was enacted in 2009, establishing statutory rules for the Article 21A entitlement. [India Code]
  • 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms
  • National education monitoring: The Swiss Education Report became a recurring national source for system-level monitoring from 2010 onward.
  • Language-region curricula: Plan d’études romand, Lehrplan 21 and Piano di studio established coordinated curriculum models across the French-, German- and Italian-speaking regions. [EDK]
  • Higher education coordination: Federal-cantonal coordination and institutional accreditation were reorganized under the Higher Education Act, which entered into force in 2015.
  • Mobility strategy: The Confederation and cantons adopted a national strategy for exchanges and mobility in 2017. [EDK]
  • The Right to Education Act took effect on 1 April 2010, making its free-and-compulsory elementary education provisions operational. [India Code]
  • Samagra Shiksha was introduced in 2018 as an integrated pre-school-to-Class-XII programme, replacing the earlier separate elementary, secondary and teacher education schemes. [Samagra Shiksha]
  • The National Education Policy 2020 was approved in July 2020, introducing the 5+3+3+4 pedagogical structure and proposed changes across school and higher education. [MoE]
  • 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms
  • ERI period 2021–2024: Federal education, research and innovation priorities included digital development, quality and international cooperation.
  • Swiss Education Report 2023: The fourth official national education report updated evidence covering early childhood, compulsory school, vocational education and higher education. [EDK]
  • National learning-goal monitoring: New assessments of national basic competencies were conducted in 2023 for the 11th school year and in 2024 for the fourth school year. [EDK]
  • UGC's Academic Bank of Credits regulations took effect in 2021, establishing a digital mechanism for accumulating, transferring and redeeming academic credits at eligible higher education institutions. [UGC]
  • The Union government approved PM SHRI in September 2022 to develop more than 14,500 selected existing government and local-body schools, with the scheme extending through 2026–27. [PIB]
  • UGC notified regulations in November 2023 for the establishment and operation of approved foreign higher education institution campuses in India. [UGC]
  • 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms
  • ERI Policy 2025–2028: The new federal funding period began in 2025, with around CHF 29.2 billion in approved maximum funding authorizations and priorities covering education, vocational training, higher education, research and innovation. [SERI]
  • Swiss Education Report 2026: The fifth official national education-monitoring report was published on 23 March 2026, covering the education system from early childhood through continuing education. [SKBF-CSRE]
  • Professional Bachelor and Professional Master: Changes that entered into force on 1 October 2026 introduced the additional titles “Professional Bachelor” for qualifying federal professional examination and higher professional college diplomas, and “Professional Master” for advanced federal professional examination diplomas. The changes also permit English as an additional examination language. These are title additions for professional education qualifications, not replacements for university bachelor's or master's degrees. [SERI]
  • Open Science II: The national higher-education program continued during 2025–2026 with CHF 13.65 million available for selected Open Access and Open Research Data activities; its duration was shortened because of federal spending decisions. [swissuniversities]
  • One Nation One Subscription began on 1 January 2025, providing eligible government academic and research institutions access to more than 13,000 scholarly journals during the scheme's first phase. [PIB]
  • CBSE Class X board examinations: From 2026, CBSE introduced two board examination opportunities within the same year: a main examination and an optional second examination for eligible candidates seeking improvement or meeting specified requirements. [CBSE]
  • Skill Education: CBSE made Kaushal Bodh mandatory for Classes VI–VIII in affiliated schools from the 2026–27 session. [CBSE]
  • Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence: CBSE introduced curriculum resources for Classes III–VIII in the 2026–27 session, covering logical reasoning, computational thinking and introductory AI concepts. [CBSE]
  • UDISE+ 2025–26: India recorded approximately 24.72 crore school students, 14.67 lakh schools and 1.027 crore teachers. The pupil-teacher ratios were 10 at the Foundational Stage, 12 at the Preparatory Stage, 17 at the Middle Stage and 21 at the Secondary Stage. These are staffing ratios, not average classroom sizes. [PIB]
  • AISHE 2023–24: The report released in July 2026 recorded approximately 45 million higher education students and a gross enrollment ratio of 30.0% among the population aged 18–23. [PIB]
  • General Overview (Narrative)

    Switzerland and India education system comparison: General Overview (Narrative)
    CategorySwitzerlandIndia
    OverviewSwitzerland has a federal, decentralized education system in which the 26 cantons hold primary responsibility for compulsory schooling while the Confederation and cantons cooperate in post-compulsory education. Compulsory education lasts 11 years, normally beginning around age four, and approximately 95% of pupils at this level attend tuition-free public schools. Instruction is mainly in German, French, Italian or Romansh according to language region. After compulsory school, vocational education and training is the larger upper-secondary route, accounting for 60.7% of enrollment in 2024. Switzerland has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 499 in mathematics, 470 in reading and 501 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes 12 universities, 10 universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other accredited institutions. International students accounted for 20.1% of tertiary enrollment in 2024. Current developments include the 2025–2028 federal education funding period, the Swiss Education Report 2026 and the Professional Bachelor and Professional Master title additions introduced in October 2026.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]