The year 2025 has been a turning point not just for global education, but particularly for India’s learning ecosystem. As someone deeply engaged with students across aspirational states like Arunachal Pradesh, as well as national youth preparing for competitive exams and more, I have witnessed a profound shift in how learners think, aspire, and evolve. And as an EdTech founder I found one thing clear: India is not behind the world anymore, we are standing at the edge of our own educational renaissance.
- The Year Personalisation Became Non-Negotiable
Across countries, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Finland, the strongest common thread is personalised learning. Students don’t learn “subjects”; they learn at their own pace, path, and performance level.
In India, 2025 saw a sharp transition:
- Over 82% of learners now prefer modular, concept-based microlearning.
- More than 1.6 crore students used AI-based doubt solving tools this year.
- Tier-2 and Tier-3 learners saw a 40–60% rise in online exam-preparation engagement.
At Edunachal, our students echoed the same need:“Give me the exact guidance I need—not everything that exists.”
This pushed us to re-engineer our pedagogy with structured mock tests, personalised analytics, and one-to-one mentorship (IAS Decode) that mirrors the global best practices I observed in Singapore and Japan.
- The Rise of Practical, Outcome-Oriented Education
One of the biggest gaps between India and top-performing education models abroad is real-world alignment. Countries like Finland and Singapore integrate creativity, design thinking, and research early in schooling. Children build, experiment, fail, and iterate.
In contrast, India historically rewarded memory.
But 2025 changed this trajectory dramatically:
- NEP 2020 implementations deepened, especially experiential learning and vocational integration.
- Corporate partnerships under CSR in education grew by 30%, pushing skill-based learning.
- AI, data literacy, entrepreneurship, and sustainability became mainstream conversations.
I experienced this shift closely during my interactions with global educators at Edutech Asia, where innovation labs, maker spaces, and creative learning hubs are redefining childhood learning. Inspired by this, I began conceptualizing a creative learning platform for children in India, where play, food, design, and creativity merge just like Singapore and Korea.
- The Competitive Exam Landscape: From Pressure to Precision
India has more than 3 crore active competitive exam aspirants, making it one of the largest exam-preparation ecosystems globally. But the narrative is changing.
Students are tired of information overload.
What they demand now is:
- crisp, accurate, exam-aligned content
- structured mentorship
- confidence-building
- mental wellness support
At Edunachal, we saw this firsthand, students preparing for UPSC, State PSC, SSC, and technical exams increasingly requested:
- personalised MCQs
- concept-wise tests
- interview guidance
- psychological support before exams
This is why 2025 became the year we invested heavily in:
- Topic-wise MCQ banks
- Real exam pattern simulations
- Localised content for Northeast aspirants
- Mock test series for UPSC, UGC NET, and AE/JE
This shift from more content to right content is a silent revolution.
- Technology as the Great Equaliser
AI has not replaced teachers; it has empowered them.
In Singapore, I observed classrooms where AI assessed student emotions and learning gaps in real time. In Japan and South Korea, robotics and AR/VR are integrated into daily schooling. These models are not futuristic, they are functional.
India is catching up faster than expected:
- AI-enabled learning is growing at 28% YoY
- Rural digital adoption increased by 32% in 2025
- The government invested nearly ₹1,200 crore in EdTech-related digital initiatives this year
Our own Edunachal AI-driven model, currently in development, will soon offer:
- adaptive tests
- performance analytics
- smart revision plans
- bilingual microlearning
- subject-wise and state-specific competitive prep
Technology is no longer a tool; it is the new teacher, mentor, and bridge for millions who lacked access earlier.
- Humanising Education: The Real Priority of 2026
While 2025 was about technology, 2026 must be about humanity.
During my recent podcast recording on youth, pressure, unemployment, mental health, gender, and relationships, one thing was very clear—students are anxious. They are pressurized by expectations, confused by choices, and overwhelmed by information.
The future of education cannot be only digital.
It must be:
- empathetic
- student-centered
- mentorship-driven
- holistic
India’s youth need:
- guidance
- clarity
- emotional safety
- career awareness
- community support
Our focus at Edunachal in 2026 will revolve around:
- mental wellness integration
- personal mentorship at scale
- career awareness for madarsa and rural students
- research-based teacher training
- creative skill-building platforms for children
This blend of technology + empathy + mentorship will define the next decade.
Also Read: Redefining Design Thinking: How AI Is Transforming Architectural Education at VESCOA
- What India Must Learn from the World
From Singapore — discipline + creativity
From Japan — precision + lifelong learning
From Finland — teacher empowerment
From South Korea — dedication + innovation culture
And yet, India has one thing others envy:
the hunger to rise.
The raw talent I see in Northeast, the determination in Delhi NCR, and the dreams of rural students across India are unmatched anywhere in the world.
2026 — The Year of Responsible, Redefined Education
We are entering a phase where India will not be just a consumer of global education models but a contributor. With the right integration of AI, creativity, mentorship, and empathetic learning environments, we can build an education system where every learner—regardless of geography—feels empowered.
For Edunachal, the mission remains clear:
Make quality learning accessible, personalised, and deeply human.
2025 gave us the momentum.
2026 will give us the transformation.
Views expressed by Shamshad Alam, Founder & CEO, Edunachal (Tekhlym Pvt Ltd – DPIIT Recognized)
