*Empowering State Public Universities to Power the Vision of Viksit Bharat* In this insightful article, Dr. VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. Shashank Shah, Senior Specialist, NITI Aayog and Oshin Dharap, highlight the pivotal role of State Public Universities (SPUs) in India's higher education. State Public Universities (SPUs) and their over 46,000 affiliated institutions are the backbone, educating over 80% of India's 4.33 crore higher education students. The authors address critical challenges such as infrastructure deficiencies and persistent funding constraints within many SPUs. NITI Aayog's recent report, developed through extensive consultations, proposes nearly 80 policy recommendations for SPU transformation, vital for achieving NEP 2020's 50% GER target by 2035. This comprehensive roadmap aims to strengthen SPUs across key pillars: research, governance, funding, and employability. This will establish them as institutions of excellence, indispensable for India's journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Read the full article: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/columnists/empowering-state-public-universities-to-power-the-vision-of-viksit-bharat.html#google_vignette