Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025: A Vision for India's Educational Transformation

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 is poised to revolutionize India's educational framework, aiming to transform the youth demographic into a powerhouse of innovation and leadership. Dr. Amrik Singh Thakur emphasizes the need for a shift from mere credentialing to fostering critical thinking and ethical reasoning. The Bill seeks to reposition Indian universities as creators of knowledge, focusing on long-term reforms that prioritize skills and competencies essential for global relevance. With a strong emphasis on ethics and equity, it aims to democratize excellence in education. As India stands at a crucial juncture, this initiative could redefine its role on the world stage, making it imperative for the nation to act swiftly in mobilizing its youth through educational transformation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 28, 2025, 18:55 IST

A Landmark Initiative for Education

Dr. Amrik Singh Thakur, who leads the Centre for Tibetan Studies at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, has hailed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill–2025 as a pivotal step that could elevate India to a position of global knowledge leadership, restoring its identity as Vishwaguru.

Leveraging the Youth Demographic

With a significant 65% of India's population being under 35, Dr. Thakur pointed out that this Bill, advocated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for Viksit Bharat @2047, aims to harness this youthful potential for innovation and leadership. He raised an essential question: will India merely engage in the global economy, or will it shape its future through educational reforms?

Transforming Education Beyond Credentials

Dr. Thakur criticized the current state of universities, describing them as 'certificate factories' that prioritize credentials over genuine knowledge and ethical development. He believes the Bill disrupts this trend by promoting a comprehensive approach to education that integrates knowledge, skills, and values, fostering critical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Emphasizing Skills and Global Competence

The Bill emphasizes the necessity of technical skills, professional expertise, digital literacy, and essential life skills across all educational pathways, building on the National Education Policy 2020. Dr. Thakur argued that these competencies will determine whether India becomes a hub for labor or innovation, and whether its youth will serve global markets or create them.

Prioritizing Long-Term Educational Reform

Dr. Thakur highlighted the tendency of educational leaders to seek immediate recognition, stating that the Bill redirects focus towards meaningful reform and lasting impact. He emphasized that curriculum redesign, faculty training, and infrastructure improvements should be seen as long-term investments in civilization rather than short-term political maneuvers.

From Knowledge Consumers to Creators

The Bill aims to transform Indian universities into centers of knowledge creation through mandates for research, incentives for innovation, and partnerships with industry. Success will be evaluated not by enrollment figures but by the number of patents filed, research published, startups launched, and societal challenges addressed.

Foundations of Ethics and Equity

Dr. Thakur emphasized that technical skills devoid of ethical grounding lead to 'skilled mercenaries' rather than responsible citizens. The Bill reinstates ethics as a core component of the curriculum, mandating value education, community involvement, and social responsibility metrics. It also aims to democratize excellence by ensuring quality across institutions, expanding scholarships for underprivileged communities, and utilizing digital infrastructure to provide top-tier content to remote areas.

Revolutionizing Assessment Methods

The Bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of assessment methods, moving away from rote memorization to competency-based evaluations, portfolio assessments, and graduate outcomes. By focusing on critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and ethical reasoning alongside domain knowledge, it signals a shift towards producing well-rounded professionals.

The Imperative of Vishwaguru

Dr. Thakur concluded that reclaiming India's status as a global knowledge leader necessitates contemporary excellence that aligns with its ancient aspirations. The Bill introduces governance reforms, funding strategies, curriculum frameworks, and accountability measures to realize this vision. With India's demographic dividend at risk of diminishing in the coming decades, he stressed the urgency of mobilizing youth through educational reform.

"The world watches. Our youth wait. History judges. Let us choose wisely," Dr. Thakur remarked, highlighting the Bill's significance as a strategic framework for national capability and civilizational transformation.