Economic Survey 2026 proposes making India an ‘education tourism’; calls for yoga, ayurveda courses to attract foreign students

New Delhi: The Economic Survey 2025–26 has outlined a wider roadmap to position India as a global destination for 'education tourism', combining higher education with cultural learning and travel. The survey proposes attracting international students through short-term academic programmes aligned with India’s traditional knowledge programmes such as yoga, Ayurveda, philosophy and heritage studies.

Tabled in Parliament today, the survey stressed that India has unique untapped potential to attract foreign students specifically from the Global South. The survey also cautions that internationalisation must be taken forward carefully to avoid rising cost of education, excessive commercialisation and the dilution of indigenous knowledge systems.

The survey notes that the number of inbound international students in India increased from under 7,000 between the year 2000 to 2001 to around 49,000 in 2020 just before the country was hit by the Covid pandemic. Despite this growth, the count of international students is only about 0.10 per cent of total higher education enrolment in the country.

'..It is far below leading host countries where international students form 10- to 40 per cent of enrolments. In 2024, for every one international student coming to India, 28 Indian students went abroad with significant associated foreign exchange costs. Annual outward remittance under the ‘studies abroad’ component has increased to USD 3.4 billion in FY24,' the survey added.

For study abroad, Indian students mainly prioritise countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

To increase the demand for higher studies in India, the survey recommends diversifying academic offerings apart from traditional degree programmes.

'Programme diversification beyond full degrees, such as summer schools, semester-abroad modules, heritage and philosophy tracks, yoga and Ayurveda certificates and innovation or rural-immersion labs can be bundled with tourism circuits and tailored for BRICS and wider Global South partners.'

The survey also suggests that top Indian higher education institutions should institutionalise two-way exchange programmes and offer joint, dual or twinning degrees with foreign universities.

On the policy front, the survey calls for reforms such as faster visa processing, post-study internship opportunities, recognition of prior learning and flexible credit systems. It also recommends strengthening housing, healthcare, counselling, insurance and visa support for international students.

It further proposes 'leveraging alumni and start-up ecosystems through embassies and incubators' and building regional networks in STEAM3 disciplines. Given tighter visa and enrolment norms in developed countries, the survey sees this as a timely opportunity for India to improve its global branding and outreach.

While encouraging internationalisation, the survey warns against unchecked market forces. 'Caution must be heeded to the working of market forces that might lead to a general increase in the cost of education, excessive commercialisation or exclusion of marginalised, as also to the risk of overemphasis on borrowed knowledge systems that may undermine indigenous or local traditions.' It also flags possible governance challenges arising from limitations in the existing regulatory framework.

The survey highlights weak industry-academia linkages, citing a TeamLease Edtech report. 'A recent TeamLease Edtech report showed that 75 per cent of HEIs lack industry-readiness.'

It also points to low placement outcomes, limited use of internships and live industry projects and faculty shortages with over half of professor posts vacant in central universities as of January 31, 2025. On the University Grants Commission’s Professor of Practice initiative, the survey notes-

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'..challenges remain, such as a lack of motivation among industry leaders to join academia due to short tenure… and rather strict eligibility criteria for appointment.'

The survey concludes that a balanced and carefully regulated push for internationalisation can help India emerge as a global hub for affordable, high-quality education and research.