Acumen 10 States Report- Chandigarh

India 10 States Report Chandigarh

Chandigarh, a Union Territory (UT) and the capital city of the states of Haryana and Punjab is a dynamic hub of development within the country, with prestigious research institutes, educational hubs, and thriving IT companies.

A planned city with a population of about 15 million, Chandigarh’s trajectory within the country’s educational landscape is one of continuous growth. With a strong economy and a commitment to becoming a leading smart city by 2025 the city invites collaboration from foreign universities to contribute to its vision of excellence, diversity, and growth.

Chandigarh also has two satellite cities, Mohali in Punjab state and Panchkula in Haryana state, with the three cities collectively known as Chandigarh Tricity. It is also one of the richest Union Territories with a per capita income of twice the national average. Located near the foothills of the Shivalik Range of the Himalayas in Northwest India, Chandigarh is the gateway to the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The founders of Flipkart-Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal belong to Chandigarh.

Chandigarh is one of the first cities in India to have 100% metalled road connectivity, a well-developed social, physical, and industrial infrastructure and connectivity. The city has a strong and growing economy with a GSDP growing at a CAGR of 14.95% from 2015-16 to 2021-22.

In Chandigarh, historical data clearly showcases the importance and value placed on Internationalisation and study abroad. Over the years students and their families have seen the benefit of transnational education which presents a winwin proposition for them. At our university, Chitkara University, we have showcased this trend over the years very successfully. Interestingly we are also observing a shift in the trends of selection of destinations expanding from a few select choices to becoming more open and flexible in opting for new destinations for study abroad or TNE - the reason being the student’s journey as an international student and opportunities thereafter for them.”

Hazel Siromoni Pro Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives, Chitkara University

Addressable Market

Chandigarh has a good network of 112 government schools, 7 government-aided schools, 83 recognised private schools, and 7 Central government schools run by Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and the Indian Air Force.

Chandigarh also has the highest per capita income in the country indicating a strong paying capacity. This highlights the growing inclination towards private education and the means and will of students to pay for quality education.

01

Educational Index:

> Literacy rate: High literacy rate of 86.43%

> National average of 74.4%

> Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): 64.8% Highest in the country

> Performance Grading Index (PGI) score (2021-22): 659 Highest in the country

Economic Growth (2024-25):

> Highest per capita income (USD 4188) 04

Industrial and Service Sector Infrastructure:

Global Exposure and Innovation:

> Multinational companies, research institutes, start-ups, and innovation hubs

> Culture of creativity and excellence

Overseas Education Growth:

> Light engineering, pharmaceuticals, IT, biotechnology, tourism etc. 05

> Approximately 5% year-on-year growth – Number of students opting for overseas education 02

College density per 100,000 eligible population

Chandigarh Average: 15 colleges

National Average: 30 colleges

3 Universities

Fee ranges for major courses (per annum)

Engineering: USD 396-4810

Management: USD 396-6013

Medical: USD 1202-24054 FDI Inflows

USD 79.98 million (Oct 2019Jun 2023)

Financial Strength Per Capita income USD 4188 in 2021-22. Fourth highest in India in all states and UTs

USD 5.47 bn State GDP (202122), CAGR 201516 to 2021-22: 14.95%

Emerging Educational Hubs in Chandigarh

Exploring Chandigarh, with its planned architecture, quality education and global partnerships; Panchkula, with its industrial development, vocational and technical education; Mohali, with its advanced research institutes, IT and sports facilities, and international collaborations.

Mohali

Sports and Pharmaceuticals, IT and Engineering Hub 87 colleges

> Collaboration:

• Palashka University with Cornell University

• UC Berkeley

• Cambridge University

• ISB with 53 leading schools from countries such as the US, UK, France, South Africa, Germany, China, South Korea and Singapore. Chandigarh University has 486 Global Collaborations with top-ranking universities from 95 nations.

> Institutions:

• Indian Institute of Science Education and research (IISER)

• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)

• Plaksha University

• Chandigarh University

• Indian School of Business (ISB)

• Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT)

• Army Institute of Law

Panchkula

Administrative Excellence and Tourism 42 colleges

> Industries: IT, Software development, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering

> Collaboration:

• Indo-German Centre for Environment

• Indo-Norwegian Centre for Renewable Energy – Panchuka’s flourishing trade and industry, encompassing light engineering, pharmaceuticals and tourism – significantly contribute to the state’s economy.

> Institutions:

• Haryana Institute of Public Administration

• Panchkula Engineering College

Chandigarh

> Industries: Education, IT, travel and Tourism, Pharmaceuticals

> Collaboration:

• Punjab University with National Science, technology and development Agency, Thailand

• University of Missouri, USA

• Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

• International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid tropics (ICRISAT)

• Chitkara University has collaborations with 200+ overseas universities

> School Education:

• The New public School

• Yadavindra Public School

• St.Xavier Punjab

• Apollo Public School

• The Indian Heritage School

> Institutions:

• Panjab University, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

• Chitkara University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH

Ability to Transfer: Academic Quality

Presence of International Curriculum Schools

There are good quality international schools in Chandigarh including IB and IGCSE schools. Some of these are:

> Strawberry Fields High School, sector 26, Chandigarh

> FirstSteps IB World School, sector 26, Chandigarh

> Oakridge international school

> The British School

> Cambridge International School, Mohali

Reputed Higher and Secondary Education Institutes (as per NIRF Ranking) [8]

In the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021, the subjectwise performance, students of class 10 exhibit exceptional performance, surpassing the national average, securing the first rank among states in Science, Social Science, and English, and a commendable second rank in Mathematics

The Union Territory also boasts of a high IELTS score in the country - 6.4

Openness to Internationalisation & Collaboration

Government Commitment to Education & Entrepreneurship:

The Chandigarh administration is keen on contributing towards education, with the yearly expenditure on education taking up a major share of the total state budget. In its budget of 2023-24, the second highest allocation of 16.80% was for education. This, coupled with the yearly allocations provided to the Union Territory for use in the education sector, makes Chandigarh a prosperous benefactor to students and educators alike. Chandigarh has 123 startups representing about 1% of India’s startups making it the 11th best startup ecosystem in India.

In Chandigarh, there is an alignment between student preferences and labour market dynamics. The robust Information Technology (IT) sector, aligned with students’ interests, and the burgeoning healthcare industry, reflecting emerging preferences, showcases a rare, opportune match between supply and demand. This makes Chandigarh an ideal collaborative hub, offering foreign institutions opportunities to engage with a skilled workforce and align educational programmes with dynamic employment sectors for mutual growth.

Key insights and actionable recommendations for International Providers

Chandigarh emerges as India’s premier transnational education (TNE) hub, combining exceptional educational infrastructure with robust economic fundamentals and explicit government commitment to internationalisation.

The union territory presents a rare convergence of favourable factors for international education providers: strong institutional ecosystems, explicit policy support, demonstrated student demand for internationalisation, emerging skill gaps aligned with global expertise, and substantial paying capacity. The regulatory environment post-NEP 2020 now permits flexible partnership and campus models previously unavailable.

It supports diverse academic collaborations, offering dual-, joint-, and twinning degree programmes for both Indian and international students. With ties to 515+ foreign universities, the city stands out as a good choice for Indian as well as international providers

Why Chandigarh Over Other Indian Cities

Exposure Highest IELTS scores (6.4); historical outbound mobility culture

515+ international collaborations already embedded; least regulatory friction

Pharma + IT + Healthcare alignment with global talent demand

Explicit FDI welcome; Smart City status; education budget priority Expansion Space

College density 50% below national average; room for high-quality institutions

Geographic Access Gateway to North India; international airport; high connectivity

Cost Efficiency

Land & operational costs 20-30% lower than Delhi, Bangalore

Higher education plays a vital role in shaping the career of any individual. Out of 28 states and 8 union territories in India, Punjab is among top 3 states from which students are travelling abroad for higher education. Chandigarh being a Union Territory and shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, situated near the foothills of Himalayas plays a vital role. Existence of top leading Colleges is shaping the future of students through international collaboration which leads to articulation and pathway programmes. Short term programmes and internship abroad programmes support students to explore the education system of multiple international universities during their stay within the college.”

References

The official website of the Chandigarh Administration. https://chandigarh.gov.in/

Department of Education Chandigarh Administration; https://Chdeducation.gov.in

“Why Chandigarh Is The Joint Capital of Punjab And Haryana,” News18, Oct. 10, 2023. https://www.news18.com/viral/why-chandigarh-is-thejoint-capital-of-punjab-and-haryana-8610519.html

“3 awards in UT’s kitty for leading smart cities mission,” The Times of India, Jan. 14, 2024. Accessed: Jan, 2026. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ chandigarh-smart-city-limited-3-awards-for-leadingsmart-cities-mission/articleshow/106826920.cms

“Chandigarh ,” IBEF, Nov. 2023. https://www.ibef.org/uploads/states/infogrphics/large/ chandigarh-infographic-november-2023.pdf

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, “State-wise data on per capita income,” www.pib.gov.in, Jul. 24, 2023. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage. aspx?PRID=1942055

Department of Higher Education, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2021-22,” Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, Jan. 2024. https://aishe.gov.in/aishe/viewDocument. action?documentId=353

Sannam S4 Acumen, “India’s Study Abroad Market Top 10 States for Recruitment and Partnerships: Chandigarh,” Sep. 2023.

Department of Higher Education, “National Institutional Ranking Framework: India Rankings 2025,” Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/Ranking.html

tate Report Card Chandigarh,” Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, Nov. 2021. https://nas.gov.in/report-card/nas-2021

Indian Budget, Notes on demands for grants for Chandigarh https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe53.pdf

“The Startup Ecosystem of Chandigarh,” Startupblink.com, 2025.

https://www.startupblink.com/startup-ecosystem/ chandigarh-in?page=1 (accessed Jan 2026)

Chandigarh is a hub for students from several states in North India - mainly Himachal, Haryana, J&K, Ladakh and Punjab, along with students from across the country. It has specialisations in several disciplines such as pharmacy, engineering, pure sciences, dental college, business administration, social sciences law among others and patents are filed in by faculty from time to time. Several MoUs have been signed with industry leaders and Exchange Programmes established with foreign universities.

Universities in Chandigarh are abreast with all requirements for a global and modern education, which is the aspiration of a large volume of students that come here in search of world-class education.”