India is witnessing a historic revival of its academic and institutional strength under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation’s higher education and healthcare infrastructure, which was once concentrated in a few cities in India, is now expanding across the length and breadth of the country. This shows the spirit of Swadeshi and the resolve of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
From 7 AIIMS to 20, 16 IITs to 23, and 13 IIMs to 21, India’s network of premier institutions has grown dramatically over the past decade under PM Modi’s leadership. This expansion is not merely about numbers but about creating a strong foundation for India’s intellectual, healthcare, and innovation-driven growth. It shows a shift towards building indigenous capacity, nurturing homegrown talent, and positioning India as a global knowledge hub rooted in its own cultural ethos.
PM Modi’s education vision is deeply influenced by the idea of Swadeshi, i.e. the belief that national progress must emerge from within the roots of India, using India’s own strengths, knowledge, and traditions. If we look closely, in the early decades after independence, India established a few elite institutions that produced exceptional talent, but access remained limited. The new approach seeks to democratise excellence and ensure that world-class education and research opportunities reach every aspiring student from metropolitan cities to remote regions.
Under initiatives like “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” the Indian government has focused on decentralising education and promoting inclusive development. The Swadeshi spirit is very much evident in the way these institutions are being built with Indian technology, materials, and expertise. This is also strengthening the economy and national confidence.
From 7 AIIMS to 20, from 16 IITs to 23, India’s academic backbone has never been stronger.
PM Modi’s vision is powering a new generation of healthcare, innovation and leadership. 📚#GharGharSwadeshi pic.twitter.com/duK81Dq2qk
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 17, 2025
From 7 to 20 AIIMS: Healthcare reaching the heart of India
In the past, India had only seven All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), world-renowned but limited in number. Today, that figure has tripled to 20 (fully functional), making a transformative leap in India’s healthcare and medical education landscape. These new AIIMS institutions, established in states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir, ensure that advanced medical care is no longer confined to big cities.
The expansion of AIIMS across India goes far beyond the creation of new hospitals or medical colleges; it represents a powerful symbol of Swadeshi healthcare empowerment. Each new AIIMS shows India’s growing ability to care for its citizens through its own expertise, technology, and human resources, rather than relying on foreign systems.
By training Indian doctors, promoting indigenous medical research, and bringing advanced healthcare facilities to remote regions, this expansion strengthens the nation’s self-reliance. It embodies the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, where India’s healthcare progress is driven by its own talent, innovation, and compassion, ensuring that world-class medical care truly reaches every Indian. It is also guided by the principle of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty).
This network has not only improved healthcare access but also contributed to India’s medical research, biotechnology innovation, and pandemic preparedness. During COVID-19, AIIMS institutions across the country played a vital role in treatment, vaccination drives, and awareness campaigns as well.
IITs: Fueling innovation the swadeshi way
From 16 IITs to 23, India’s premier engineering and technology institutions have expanded to regions that were once overlooked. The new IITs in Tirupati, Bhilai, Goa, Jammu, and Dharwad, among others, are building local innovation ecosystems.
The Modi government’s emphasis on “Design in India” and “Make in India” aligns closely with the IITs’ role in promoting indigenous technology and startups. These institutes are not just producing engineers, they are creating Swadeshi innovators. Also, the initiatives such as the Atal Innovation Mission, Startup India, and Digital India are closely linked with IIT-led incubation hubs, where young Indian minds are developing solutions tailored to Indian needs, from rural water purification systems to AI-based healthcare tools.
The government’s focus on encouraging IITs to partner with Indian industries rather than depend on foreign collaborations also deepens the spirit of self-reliance. Each IIT is becoming a hub for research, patent development, and entrepreneurship. It enables India to compete globally while staying rooted in national values.
IIMs: Shaping swadeshi leadership for a global economy
India’s management education system has also seen an impressive expansion, with IIMs growing from 13 to 21. These institutions are nurturing leaders with Indian values and global competence, professionals who combine strategic thinking with ethical grounding.
PM Modi has repeatedly emphasised that “India does not lack talent, only opportunity”, and the growing number of IIMs ensures that leadership education is no longer limited to a few privileged zones. New IIMs in states like Nagpur, Jammu, Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, and Amritsar have given young Indians the chance to access high-quality education close to home.
What makes this growth truly Swadeshi is the shift in philosophy. Management education is increasingly focusing on the Indian business models, sustainability, rural entrepreneurship, and cooperative development. Through initiatives like “Vocal for Local”, IIMs are encouraging their students to promote Indian brands, traditional industries, and rural enterprises, and bring management excellence to the grassroots level.
One of the most transformative steps toward rebuilding India’s academic backbone is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy moves away from old colonial-style education and focuses on practical learning across subjects, promoting the Indian languages, research, and traditional knowledge systems.
It encourages students to think critically, create independently, and stay connected to Indian culture. The NEP’s emphasis on mother tongue education and technology-driven learning has made it both modern and Swadeshi as it merges tradition with innovation.
By integrating Yoga, Indian Knowledge Systems, and moral education, the policy reflects a broader vision: creating citizens who are not only skilled but also grounded in India’s civilisational values.
Across all these developments, the thread of Swadeshi runs deep. The construction of new campuses uses Indian architects and local materials; research funding increasingly supports Indian startups; and students are being encouraged to solve India’s own challenges, from rural healthcare to renewable energy.
The idea is clear: India’s growth must come from its own soil, guided by its own people, and powered by its own intellect. PM Modi’s leadership has revived the confidence that India can stand on its own, that we can educate, heal, innovate, and lead without dependency. The academic expansion reflects this cultural and economic self-assurance.
India’s journey from 7 AIIMS to 20, 16 IITs to 23, and 13 IIMs to 21 represents more than institutional growth. It represents the beginning of a new era of Indian-style education and self-reliant learning. It is the story of India rebuilding its intellectual foundation, rooted in Indian values yet ready to embrace global challenges.
Under PM Modi’s vision, education and healthcare are not just sectors; they are instruments of national transformation. By empowering youth, strengthening research, and ensuring equal access across all regions, India is laying the groundwork for a knowledge-driven, self-reliant, and confident New India.
In the words of the Prime Minister, “We should have faith in our people, our youth, our traditions, and our knowledge systems, because the 21st century is the era of a self-reliant India.”
