India’s next phase of education reform must move beyond expanding access and focus on quality learning, innovation, teacher readiness and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, education leaders said at the inaugural session of the ETEducation Annual Education Summit 2026.
Addressing the theme, “India’s Education Revolution: For the World, With the World,” speakers highlighted how the country’s ambition to become a global knowledge and talent powerhouse will depend on strengthening learning outcomes, fostering innovation, embracing technology responsibly and building global partnerships that prepare students for an increasingly complex future.
Dr Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), said India’s education journey must now move beyond the goal of universal access towards ensuring quality, equity and values-driven learning. While the country has made remarkable progress in expanding educational access, he said the next leap would depend on preparing children not just for examinations, but for life.
“The focus has shifted from education for all to education for all with quality, with equity and values,” Emmanuel said. He stressed that curriculum reform, teacher capacity building and assessment transformation would be critical if India wants to nurture learners who can think independently, solve problems and contribute meaningfully to society.
Highlighting the need for changes in assessment systems, Emmanuel argued that certifications based solely on marks must evolve to recognise skills, abilities and innovative thinking. He also called for continuous teacher upskilling, noting that classrooms will increasingly need to prepare students for a rapidly changing world shaped by technology and uncertainty.
Dr Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India, said innovation, inclusion and the ability to adapt to disruption would define India’s education and economic future. Linking education to the country’s vision for Bharat@2047, he said institutions must equip young people to become creators of change rather than passive consumers of technology.
Bagla noted that while sectors such as education and finance are only beginning to experience the full force of technological disruption, the pace of change is expected to accelerate significantly in the coming years. He pointed to India’s startup ecosystem and digital public infrastructure as evidence of the country’s ability not only to adopt technology but also adapt it at scale.
“The future of any generation and any society is going to be dependent on its relationship with technology and disruption,” he said, adding that inclusion and empowerment have been defining pillars of India’s transformation over the past decade.
Addressing the role of artificial intelligence in education, Sanjay Jain, Lead, Google for Education, India, said AI has the potential to expand access to quality learning and support students across geographies, particularly in underserved regions. However, he stressed that successful adoption would depend on empowering educators rather than replacing them.
“We don’t think it’s teacher in the loop, it’s teacher in the lead,” Jain said.
He emphasised that teachers must be equipped to understand both the opportunities and risks associated with AI, while institutions must ensure strong safeguards around privacy, security and responsible use of student data. According to Jain, India’s policy momentum and technology ecosystem place it in a strong position to emerge as a global leader in AI-enabled education.
Bringing an international perspective to the discussion, Dr Diane Smith-Gander AO, Chancellor, The University of Western Australia, said education partnerships between India and Australia are evolving beyond traditional academic exchanges towards deeper collaborations built on talent, technology, research and workforce readiness.
She noted that universities globally are rethinking their role in an AI-driven world where knowledge is increasingly accessible, making human capabilities such as judgement, creativity, ethics and critical thinking more important than ever. Smith-Gander also highlighted growing institutional collaborations between India and Australia, reflecting India’s rising importance in the global higher education landscape.
The discussions underscored a common message: India’s education revolution will be defined not only by access and scale, but by its ability to deliver quality learning, foster innovation, harness technology responsibly and prepare learners for a future shaped by rapid economic and technological transformation.
