From time immemorial, India has been a center for learning. Thousands of years ago, great scholars taught through the scriptures, which were orally carried from generation to generation. A variety of subjects such as philosophy, religion, medicine, literature, drama and arts, astrology, mathematics and sociology were taught and masterpieces on these subjects have been written. Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila were ancient universities that had students from far flung countries coming there. The Muslim era and the British era saw great development in the field of education to a diverse stratum of society.

Education Institutes in India

From 20 universities and some 640 colleges during Independence, the number of educational institutions in India has gone up to 259 universities with 11,089 affiliated colleges. Education has been in prime focus throughout India's development plans. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that it is included as a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, which states that " the State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years". Though delayed, the government has finally made the right to education from the age of 6 to 14, a Fundamental Right. The total budgetary expenditure on Education by the Education Departments of the Center and States has increased from Rs. 644.6 millions in 1951-52 to Rs. 70,250 millions in 2002-03. Plan expenditure has increased rapidly since the first five- year plan. An allocation of Rs. 438,250 millions has been made in the tenth five-year plan as against Rs. 249,083.8 millions in the ninth plan. Out of this, elementary education has received the highest priority with 61% of the allocation.

India's Who's Who ?

Even though the literacy rates in India may be dismal, the total number of graduates and postgraduates is very high resulting in a highly qualified human resource. It is this abundance that has made Indians make their mark all over the world and now some multinationals have even shifted base to India looking to tap this vast resource. The IIT students are the most respected engineers the world over.

India offers a vast range of courses to the youth and still evolving and incorporating many more. The age-old favorites like Medicine and Engineering are still the most sought after, but courses like MBA (Business Administration), MCA (Computer Application), ACS (Accountancy), BL (law), Journalism, Fashion Technology and Mass Communication are considered equally or at times even more prestigious. Yet there are thousands that go abroad for higher education with a desire for more exposure and increased opportunities. United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and Russia are the favored destinations. Similarly many foreigners come to India seeking quality education as well as for an experience of the Indian essence. Just as there has been a growth in options in courses of study, so also has there been thrown a vast multitude of options for careers in India. As with the courses there are some traditional favorites like the Civil Services, the Defense Services, Medicine, Engineering (though a lot many branches have come up), Law, Teaching etc.

However with the IT sector having grown tremendously, there are many careers to be followed within this sector alone, like Content Developers, various kinds of Software Programming and designing, Call Center Agents and diverse Computer Hardware Professionals. Then there are other sections where there is tremendous scope and more and more people are opting for them like, Advertising, Architecture, Accountancy, Dietetics and Nutrition, Hospital Management, Finance Management, Hotel Management, Journalism, Fashion Designing and Modeling, Oceanography, Photography, Printing, Public Relations, Robotics, Sales and Veterinary.