Hardeep Singh Puri: Education Is the Cornerstone of India’s $35 Trillion Vision

JULY 15: Speaking at a national seminar on “School Education in India: Towards Equitable Access to Quality Education for All”, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasized that education must remain central to India’s development goals. The seminar was organized by the Council for Social Development, marking the inauguration of the Muchkund Dubey Centre for Right to Education.

Shri Puri highlighted that India’s transformation from a $4 trillion economy in 2025 to a projected $35 trillion by 2047 hinges on creating a generation of responsible, educated, and productive citizens. He credited the constitutional guarantee of the Right to Education (RTE) through the 86th Amendment Act in 2002, passed under the Vajpayee government, as a turning point in India’s education policy. This amendment made free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 a Fundamental Right under Article 21A, leading to the implementation of the RTE Act in 2009.

Citing data from UDISE and ASER, Shri Puri showcased the tangible results of policy reforms, especially under the Modi government’s initiatives since 2014. He reported that youth literacy has reached nearly 97%, while primary enrolment rose from 84% to 96%, and upper primary enrolment increased from 62% to 90%. Infrastructure improvements include a drop in pupil-teacher ratio from 42:1 to 24:1, and a sharp rise in schools with girls’ toilets (from 30% to 91%) and electricity access (from 20% to 86%). Most notably, the school dropout rate has plummeted from 9.1% to 1.5%.

Reflecting on progress since independence, Shri Puri noted that India’s literacy rate has grown from 17% in 1947 to around 80% today, per NSSO data—signaling that universal education is now within reach.

While not an education policy expert, Shri Puri stressed that education must transcend politics and be treated as a national priority. The event also honoured the late Prof. Muchkund Dubey, remembered for his lifelong advocacy for equitable, quality education.