Worldwide Education for the Future Index 2019

India has been ranked 35 in the World Wide Educating for the Future Index, 2019, recently released by an organization called The Economist Intellligence Unit.

About the Index

• The report and index were commissioned by the Yidan Prize Foundation.
• The index ranks countries based on their abilities to equip students with skill-based education.

The index is based on three categories

1. policy environment
2. teaching environment
3. overall socio-economic environment.

Highlights of the index

• Finland was at the apex of the index with strengths across each category followed by Sweden whereas New Zealand is at third position.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa) at the bottom having 50th

India and Index

• India ranked 35th on the overall index in 2019 with a total score of 53 based on the above three categories.
• The country ranked 40th with an overall score of 41.2 across categories in 2018.

Other report/ index published by Economist Intelligence Unit

• Global Democracy Index / State of Democracy in the World 2018
• Government E-Payments Adoption Ranking
• Global Liveability Ranking
• Inclusive Internet Index

Reasons for improving India’s position in index

• According to the report, the new education policy launched by the government is the main reason for India’s superior performance in the ‘Educational Environment’ category of the index.
• As per the report, India has progressed in the policy environment with a new National Education Policy published in early 2019 specifically mentioning futuristic skills such as vision, communication and entrepreneurship.
• The Union Budget 2020 highlights the new education policy under ‘Aspirational India’ which aims to achieve greater access to finance, build new laboratories and innovate to attract talented teachers.
• It is also proposed to introduce degree-level full-online education programs in 150 higher educational institutions with apprenticeship embedded degree or diploma courses that will begin by March 2021.

PAPER-III