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Bharat Edscape Weekly - Issue #4

Mar 23, 2026 8 min read educationedscape
Sandeep Mallareddy Sandeep Mallareddy

Big news this week is the fascinating report from Azim Premji University, which reveals that more than 40% of graduates are jobless. Despite improvements in enrollment, progress on gender equity in tertiary education, and the rise of ITIs, India’s youth are struggling to find their footing in the job market- just as the country’s demographic dividend is peaking. Meanwhile, India–foreign university collaborations are gaining momentum as visa acceptance rates and post-graduation job prospects decline. Also, check out our newly added jobs section for some opportunities.

I’d love to hear your thoughts - whether comments or compliments. Feel free to email me at me@sandeepmallareddy.com.

Funding & Acquisitions

Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives

Policy & Government

  • The Punjab government, supported by a ₹2,500 crore World Bank loan, has launched Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0. The ₹3,500 crore initiative aims to elevate 20,000 government schools to global standards by focusing on foundational literacy, vocational skill labs, and upgrading facilities into “Schools of Happiness” and “Schools of Eminence.”

  • Effective March 19, 2026, the National Dental Commission has officially replaced the Dental Council of India. The move establishes autonomous boards to oversee dental education and institutional ratings, aiming to modernize regulatory oversight and align training with international healthcare standards.

  • Following a Supreme Court ruling on the right to dignity, CBSE has issued guidelines mandating that all affiliated schools provide separate hygienic toilets and biodegradable napkins. Additionally, the Board has introduced an AI-enabled assessment proctored via “DIGI-EXAM” to certify 10,000 school counsellors in socio-emotional support.

  • NCERT has released updated Class 1-8 textbooks aligned with NEP 2020, with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan advocating for a move beyond textbooks toward experiential and mother-tongue learning. To support equity, the Ministry of Education launched the free “SATHEE” app in collaboration with IIT Kanpur to provide AI-enabled preparation for JEE and NEET to economically weaker students.

  • Despite regional conflict, Manipur’s STAR Education program in collaboration with New Globe has recorded top-tier global learning gains. In Manipur, this collaboration, reaching 38,000 students across 511 schools and extending support to 2800 children in 64 relief camps resulted in a 45% increase in enrollment and reading fluency levels 3.4 times higher than non-participating schools. These outcomes mirror international findings from a study led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer, which indicated that NewGlobe’s methodology produced learning gains among the largest ever measured - equivalent to nearly an additional year of learning over a two-year period.

  • CBSE has introduced a specialized assessment scheme for Middle East candidates whose exams were disrupted by regional conflict, using averages of best-performing subjects to ensure results are declared alongside domestic candidates.

Financial Reports & Market Trends

  • The State of Working India 2026 report reveals a widening disconnect between enrollment and job creation; while India adds 5 million graduates annually, only 2.8 million jobs are generated. This has resulted in a 40% unemployment rate among graduates aged 15-25, many of whom are forced into unpaid family work due to an “aspiration-availability mismatch” and a persistent industry skill gap. While southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka lead in translating growth into formal salaried jobs, the Centre warns that universities are operating in a “time warp,” requiring a fundamental curricular reset to keep pace with an economy that now shifts every 15 to 20 months

  • The National Capital Region is struggling with a dual crisis of overcrowding and declining quality. UDISE+ data shows Delhi schools cater to an average of 808 students per institution, putting immense pressure on facilities. This infrastructure strain correlates with a sharp drop in learning outcomes; the NIPUN Assessment 2026 revealed that only 29% of Noida schools met foundational literacy benchmarks, with Ghaziabad also recording a significant decline.

  • Pune is rapidly emerging as a competitive coaching economy for JEE and UPSC, favored for living costs that are 30-50% lower than Delhi’s. The hub increasingly attracts students from outside the city, with many institutions utilizing a “dummy college” system to allow full-time focus on entrance exams.

  • A working paper by NIPFP flags that NIOS operates as a self-financing body with ₹800 crore in reserves, yet its staff spending is double its academic expenditure.

  • The Ministry of Education informed Parliament that over 13,000 teaching posts are vacant across Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya schools, with the government relying on contractual staff to maintain academic standards.

  • Telangana has proposed ₹26,674 crore for education in its 2026-27 budget, including mid-day meals for intermediate students. However, at 9% of the total outlay, the allocation remains below the national average of 14.5%.

Jobs & Opportunities

  • Emversity is an online university platform rethinking how higher education is delivered. They’re looking for Business Partners to help scale their model.

  • Things Education builds curriculum and teacher development programs grounded in research-backed pedagogy. They’re hiring an Academic Programmes Associate — full-time, on-site in Bangalore. You’ll need comfort across school-level subjects and solid project management skills. Apply with CV + cover letter to info@things-education.com.

  • AITS (Affordable Innovative Techno Services) works with partner schools across Rajasthan to improve K-12 teaching quality. They’re hiring a Program Associate / Team Leader / Manager for academic excellence — based in Jaipur with regular school visits. 2-3 yrs in education, B.Ed. preferred. Apply: hr@aits.group. (Immediate joining.)

  • Arthan Careers builds leadership ecosystems for international NGOs, impact funds, and social enterprises. They’re hiring a Manager / Senior Manager for their international business team — you’ll own delivery, run the pipeline, and coach researchers. 5+ yrs in talent acquisition, ideally in the impact/development sector. This one comes with a twist: skip the CV, answer two scenario-based questions instead. Apply: ridhi@arthancareers.com.

  • upGrad, one of India’s largest online higher education platforms, is hiring an Associate Director - Program in Bengaluru.

  • MakerGhat works at the intersection of education, community, and local governance in Nashik, Maharashtra. Their 2026-2028 Fellowship is open for folks aged 21-30 who are fluent in English + Marathi and want hands-on experience in social impact and policy.

Note: The article URLs are constantly modified by some news agencies, and hence would result in a 404 error. In such case, just search using the summary to find related news

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