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The Special Session on Education is Business: But with a Difference’ organised on the occasion of launch of the Tagore Institute of Peace Studies at Bengal Chamber of Commerce compels us to move

beyond conventional understanding and recognise education not merely as a public service, but as a dynamic force driving economic advancement, social transformation, and global competitiveness.

We are living in a century where knowledge has become the single most valuable asset. Countries are no longer competing merely in terms of infrastructure, industry, or defence they are competing in terms of how well they can educate, innovate, and empower their people. Education is at the heart of this new global race, serving not only as a foundation for inclusive growth but also as a strategic tool for economic advancement.

As societies evolve and economies diversify, education has emerged as one of the most dynamic sectors in the global marketplace. It influences everything-from productivity and employment to health, gender equity, and social mobility. And yet, even as education increasingly mirrors the characteristics of business-market demand, revenue models, private investment, and innovation-it remains inherently different in its purpose, impact, and responsibility.

The global education sector is currently valued at over US$ 7 trillion and is projected to reach US$ 10 trillion by 2030. In India, education accounts for approximately 2.9 percent of GDP, engaging more than 9 million professionals, from educators and researchers to administrative and digital support staff. Nearly 47 per cent of India’s school-going children are now enrolled in private institutions, and over 70 per cent of higher education institutions are privately managed highlighting the increasing role of market forces in shaping the sector.

However, what distinguishes education from any conventional business is its transformative capacity. It does not merely create consumers or employees; it cultivates thinkers, creators, problem-solvers, and responsible citizens. Its dividends are not confined to profits, but extend into public good, equity, and long-term societal well-being.

In this complex and evolving landscape, it becomes clear that while education may follow business-like models of operation, its mission must remain distinctly people-centric. The goal is not merely enrollment, revenue, or expansion, enlightenment, empowerment, and equity.

Hence, education is business but unlike any other. It remains one of the few sectors where the pursuit of excellence must be continuously guided by the pursuit of fairness, where innovation must be balanced with inclusion, and where the return on investment must always be measured by the impact on lives.

We must build an education ecosystem that truly empowers, enlightens, and endures.