Educational Diplomacy: Expanding India’s Global Footprint

Introduction:

With growing global interdependence, India has reoriented its foreign policy to align with evolving regional and global interests. A key strategy in this shift is the use of soft power tools, particularly culture, education, and diplomacy, to pursue its geopolitical goals through subtle and non-coercive ways. In the 21st century, educational diplomacy has emerged as one of India's most potent soft power instruments. India’s investment in education not only attracts global talent, bridges knowledge gaps, and fosters cross-cultural understanding, but also builds strong human capital that drives long-term economic growth.

As a leading voice of the Global South, India champions the concept of "internationalisation at home" through cultural exchanges, scholarships, and academic partnerships. Historically, a consumer of foreign education, India is undergoing a paradigm shift, transforming into a prominent exporter of educational excellence. Premier institutions such as the IITs and IIMs have produced world-class scholars, visionary leaders, and renowned academics, reflecting India as a powerhouse of academic excellence. These institutions continue this legacy by offering quality education to a diverse global student population while cultivating long-term trust and partnerships.

In recent decades, India has emerged as a popular destination for students from the Global South seeking affordable, high-quality education and holistic development. According to India’s Study in India (SII) portal, 72,218 students from 200 countries were enrolled in 2024–25, with most coming from neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and several African nations. These international students not only gain a world-class education but also carry forward India’s cultural and civilizational ethos, becoming informal ambassadors of Indian soft power. Such meaningful cultural exchange blurs the lines between education and geopolitics, positioning education as a long-term strategic investment in global diplomacy.

India's vision since independence:

Since independence, education has been central to India’s engagement with the Global South. Former Prime Minister Nehru envisioned modern and scientific education as the backbone of national progress and global solidarity, leading to the creation of premier institutions like the IITs and IIMs. From the Nehruvian era onward, India’s call for South-South cooperation has consistently relied on soft power diplomacy, with education and knowledge transfer playing a key role.

India’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and mutual development gained momentum during the Non-Aligned Movement era. As a frontrunner in South-South cooperation, India has demonstrated this commitment through scholarship and exchange programs that have long supported capacity building across Asia, Africa, and beyond. In the late 1940s, India began offering scholarships to foreign students, and in 1950, institutionalised this approach by establishing the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). By the 1980s, India had expanded its educational outreach to regions including Central Asia and the Middle East, incorporating training, collaborative research, and academic exchanges as vital instruments of its foreign policy.

These initiatives serve a dual purpose, supporting development in partner countries while strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. Additionally, the programs enhance bilateral relations, academic collaboration, and intercultural exchange along the growing network of foreign professionals educated in India who contribute to long-term cooperation and reflect India’s vision of inclusive, people-centred South-South engagement.

NEP 2020 and internationalisation of education:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India’s most ambitious educational reform, primarily focuses on domestic restructuring. However, it also underscores the crucial yet often overlooked need for the internationalisation of Indian education. Recognising global engagement as a necessity rather than a choice, the NEP’s ‘Internationalisation at Home’ approach marks a transformative phase in India’s education system, one that fosters cultural immersion and global exposure beyond traditional institutional collaborations. The policy aims to offer globally competitive higher education and research opportunities within India to reduce outbound student mobility, promote reformed traditional knowledge aligned with modern disciplines, and strengthen infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support global partnerships. While overcoming long-standing challenges related to capacity, access, quality, and bureaucracy. It enriches academic experiences, builds intercultural competencies, and strengthens alumni networks, thereby enhancing India’s soft power.

For decades, Indian students have sought opportunities abroad, but the narrative is evolving; India is now recognised as both a source of talent and a global education destination. With a thriving economy, technological progress, rich cultural heritage, and young talent, India is attracting international students and businesses from worldwide. Building on this vision, Indian institutions are advancing flexible learning through international academic partnerships that transcend traditional disciplines and embrace modern, globally relevant fields, contributing to global knowledge production across STEM, entrepreneurship, social sciences, commerce, and digital infrastructure,  through joint research , offshore campuses , credit transfers and dual degree programs , fostering innovation and attracting global talent.

Flagship initiatives such as the EPITA programs, Udaan India Scholarship, Study in India portal, A2A Scholarship, Quad STEM Scholarship, and Global Initiative of Academic Networks further elevate India’s higher education profile. Under the Neighbourhood policy, India also offers special incentives and reserved seats for students from  South Asian countries to strengthen regional ties. These initiatives prepare students for global careers while fostering employment opportunities through India’s growing startup ecosystem to retain domestic talent. Continued reforms and strategic investments in both humanities and scientific research are advancing multidisciplinary learning, global exposure, and access to high-quality education aligned with international standards, reflecting India’s strong commitment to academic internationalisation.

Furthermore, India’s strategic academic partnerships with globally renowned universities are enabling the establishment of offshore campuses and facilitating foreign institutions to operate within India, reflecting a two-way academic exchange. The University of Southampton (UK) and Deakin University (Australia) are set to open campuses in India. At the state level, Maharashtra has signed an MoU with York University (Canada), while other institutions from the West will soon receive Letters of Intent. Under the new UGC framework, these campuses enjoy autonomy in designing programs with greater regulatory flexibility.

Simultaneously, India’s top institutions are expanding abroad, particularly in emerging nations, aligning with national priorities and Global South development goals.  India’s knowledge diplomacy is evident through IIT Madras’s first overseas campus in Zanzibar (2023), offering BTech in AI and MTech in Ocean Structures.  Pan African e-Network Project, and the establishment of geo-informatics and IT centres in Madagascar, Niger, South Africa and Egypt, promoting shared knowledge and collective prosperity across Africa.

According to the UGC Chairman, nearly 75% of international students in India pursue undergraduate studies, 15% opt for postgraduate programs, and 4% for PhDs. This reflects global shifts in higher education trends, as rising costs, visa hurdles, and xenophobia in some Western nations prompt students and scholars to reconsider their destinations. Meanwhile, India is emerging as the alternative leading knowledge economy, offering affordable education, lower living costs, diverse career opportunities, and an inclusive cultural environment. This student mobility trend also presents a chance to reverse brain drain through dual affiliations, collaborative programs, and targeted incentives and ensure their long-term contribution to  India’s expanding academic and research ecosystem.

India is steadily positioning itself as a strategic partner in global education, moving beyond its traditional peripheral role. Targeted policy reforms, streamlined visa processes, and active participation in multinational academic collaborations are driving this transformation. With an ambitious goal of attracting 500,000 international students by 2047, the foundation has been laid. The path ahead calls for intentional scaling, sustained collaboration, and bold ambition from institutions, educators, and policymakers. Internationalisation of education is no longer a distant aspiration; India stands poised to meet global demand with excellence, inclusivity, and a deep sense of belonging.

Revival of India’s Traditional knowledge:

India has long been a cradle of knowledge with ancient learning centres like Nalanda and Takshashila, once drew scholars from across Asia to study Vedic traditions, encompassing philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, medicine and more. Though often seen as spiritual, these teachings have strong scientific foundations and practical value. Today, India is working to revive this rich intellectual heritage by integrating traditional knowledge with modern STEM disciplines, using cultural exchanges, scholarships, and global academic collaborations to share it with students worldwide.

Initiatives like International Yoga Day celebrations and translation projects, most notably the Clay Sanskrit Library and the Murty Classical Library of India, have boosted global access to Vedic texts. Under NEP 2020, programmes like Study in India and institutional collaborations aim to attract foreign students to both STEM and Indian Knowledge Systems. Universities like Banaras Hindu University and Nalanda University are actively partnering with international institutions to promote traditional knowledge. From the West, universities such as Harvard, the University of Chicago, and Oxford have long offered courses in Sanskrit and Indology, drawing extensively on this knowledge system originating in South Asia, particularly India. In the contemporary context,  this heritage enables India to internationalise its cultural foundations by integrating ancient wisdom into modern education.

Looking ahead, these efforts open new avenues for interdisciplinary academic research, integrating Vedic knowledge with modern scientific and humanistic disciplines. They also encourage comparative civilizational projects, fostering global collaborations and mutual intellectual enrichment.

Challenges:

Despite the comprehensive policy framework and ambitious vision, several challenges hinder India's educational diplomacy. Infrastructure limitations, disparity and inconsistencies in educational quality within the institutions remain key concerns. Even while prestigious institutions like the IITs and IIMs are well-known across the world, many schools and universities are not up to par in terms of research output, faculty standards, and international accreditation. Stringent regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles such as complex visas, unclear recruitment rules, and administrative delays continue to deter international students. Meanwhile, Proposals to permit foreign universities in India remain stalled due to concerns over academic autonomy and quality standards. On campus, challenges of cultural adjustment, including language barriers, food preferences, and social norms, can further alienate international students rather than foster inclusion. Presenting a consistent and reliable picture of Indian higher education on the international scene is challenging due to the disparity.

India’s educational diplomacy faces strong competition from China’s growing influence in the Global South. Through scholarships, Confucius Institutes, and investments in educational infrastructure, China strategically promotes its language, culture, and soft power. Despite top institutions and cultural ties, India’s global educational outreach remains limited. Unlike China’s large-scale efforts, initiatives like IGNOU have less impact. China’s focus on innovation and skills-based curricula boosts its global image and rankings. With 17 Confucius Institutes in South Asia and around 50,000 annual scholarships given for STEM programs and military officials, China integrates education into its geopolitical strategy.

Additionally, while initiatives target talented students from abroad, India still struggles with the persistent outflow of top domestic talent which is commonly referred to as brain drain, who often opt for higher education in Western nations. Over the last decade, education-related travel expenses by Indian students have more than doubled, from $2.46 billion in FY15 to $6.3 billion in FY24, highlighting the domestic system’s inability to meet aspirational needs.

Way Forward/Conclusion:

India’s vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, “the world is one family”, influences its educational diplomacy as a means of fostering connection, cooperation, and shared progress. Rooted in inclusivity and goodwill, its internationalisation of education goes beyond knowledge exchange and builds trust, cultural understanding, and elevates India’s soft power worldwide. Supporting the Global education system remains central, with initiatives like NEP 2020, expanded scholarships, academic partnerships, and strategic marketing positioning India as a nexus for accessible, high-quality education, and reinforcing its role as a Vishwaguru — a global teacher committed to shared prosperity and transformative development beyond borders.

The internationalisation of higher education is no longer a choice for India,it is essential for its national development. By fostering innovation and building a self-reliant ecosystem where education actively drives employment, India can retain talent, expand its global footprint, and reaffirm its identity as a knowledge-driven, culturally rooted, and forward-thinking nation. Ultimately, India’s commitment to internationalisation will shape its role in the future of global education and innovation, contributing to a more equitable and interconnected world.

Authored by: Poornima Naik and Vidushi Mishra