Piyush Goyal Says Education-As-A-Service Could Become a Major India Export

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has floated an interesting idea. Education as a service could become a genuine driver of India’s export earnings.

What happened

Goyal made this point at the Vice Chancellor’s Conclave on Reimagining Internationalisation of Higher Education for Viksit Bharat 2047, held in New Delhi. He said education as a service has significant potential to boost India’s export earnings and carry high-quality Indian education to the rest of the world. He also called Vice Chancellors the architects of India’s future, since they prepare students for global challenges.

Why this framing matters

Positioning education as a service, rather than just a domestic offering, is a notable shift. Goyal referenced the National Education Policy 2020 directly, noting that it pushed India to aim for international standards. He added that NEP 2020 has also encouraged institutions to expand and attract students from across the world. In other words, education as a service isn’t just about earning revenue. It’s about positioning India as a global education hub.

The bigger picture

Goyal also touched on curriculum reform. He suggested that subjects like international trade and India’s Free Trade Agreements should find a place in academic curricula. This way, students can better understand global economic opportunities. Given his role overseeing commerce and industry, this connects education policy directly to India’s broader trade and economic goals.

Bottom line

Framing education as a service, alongside more globally relevant curricula, could open new economic and academic opportunities for India, provided institutions actually follow through on Goyal’s vision.

Original reporting: News On Air