India, Sept. 3 -- In 2023, India became the world's most populous country and is home to the world's largest youth population, with nearly two-thirds of its people in the working-age group. This demographic profile gives India a historic opportunity. But a young population, by itself, does not create economic growth. The demographic dividend is time-bound, and its value depends on how effectively a country converts its young population into productive, skilled and globally competitive human capital.

This puts India's universities and higher education institutions at the centre of the Viksit Bharat 2047 ambition. Their role can no longer be measured simply by how many students they enrol or how many degrees they award. The more important ...