Ancient India was a country of considerable educational development, and is credited for having the first university of education in the world (Taxila). Universities that attracted countless foreign students. Asians, notably the Chinese, were especially attracted to Indian universities, because these institutions offered instruction in the teachings of Buddha. India also extended its educational influence by sending its university graduates to the Orient to teach. From the 13th century onward, however, the original contribution of the Indians waned, and application of newer educational methods was curtailed.

Since gaining its independence from Great Britain in 1947, India has sought to develop a modern, comprehensive school system; the reports of the All-Indian commissions of 1953 and 1964 advocating educational reform provided impetus for improvement. The problem of educating the vast population, with its many social and religious complexities, has remained difficult, however; funds that might otherwise have been used for education have had to be utilized to combat the perennial problems of poverty, food shortages, and overpopulation. The relics of the ancient caste system, inadequate vocational placement, and religious diversity have also contributed to the difficulty of educational reform. Nevertheless, sweeping structural changes have been undertaken and largely carried through, and the number of schools and size of enrollment have risen greatly since independence.

The school systems of the various states are under the direct control of the state governments, and the federal ministry of education assists the state systems, directs the systems of the centrally administered areas, provides financial help for the nation’s institutions of higher learning, and discharges various other responsibilities. In the 1970s the predominant pattern of schooling in India included eight years of elementary education, three years of secondary education with a distinct vocational emphasis (so that completion of this segment might qualify for entry into a trade or profession), and three years of university education leading to a degree. Implementation of a slightly modified pattern, consisting of ten years of elementary and high school, two of higher secondary education, and three of university, began in the 1980s.

India’s more than 460 museums include a number containing important historical and archaeological collections, such as the Government Museum and National Art Gallery, Chennai; the National Museum, New Delhi; Sarnath Museum, Varansi; and the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Vadodra, Chennai, Calicut, and New Delhi have museums containing outstanding collections of medieval and modern art.