Puri set to become India’s answer to brain drain with ₹15,000-crore knowledge city

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

India is fighting a battle against an invisible adversary—its own brain drain. Each year, as per the Ministry of External Affairs, nearly two million Indian students leave the country to pursue education overseas, convinced that the quality they seek is unavailable within India. The cost is staggering — not only does it drain family savings, but it also bleeds the nation of its intellectual capital. The problem is further compounded by the reality that many of these students never return. Their ideas, innovations, and energies fuel foreign economies, turning what should have been India’s asset into someone else’s gain.

This crisis is especially pronounced in states like Odisha, where the absence of globally benchmarked higher education institutions has left young talent with few choices. A new white paper, “Reimagining Higher Education in Odisha: Towards a World-Class Knowledge Hub”, warns that unless urgent steps are taken, more than five lakh students from Odisha alone could leave the state by 2035 in search of international-standard education. Despite making significant strides in primary education, Odisha’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education lingers at 22.1 per cent — considerably below the national average of 28.4% and far behind progressive states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Delhi. The dearth of high-quality, multidisciplinary universities compels students either to migrate to larger metros or increasingly to foreign shores. If left unaddressed, this imbalance will not only deepen Odisha’s brain drain but also undermine its developmental goals. These are not just numbers — they are warning signals of a looming crisis.

But there is a potential game-changer on the horizon. From brain drain to brain gain, Odisha has an opportunity to reimagine its future through the proposed Vedanta Waterfront Education City — a bold initiative that could take root in the historic city of Puri. Globally renowned for its spiritual gravitas and cultural magnetism, Puri is uniquely positioned to host a project of this magnitude. The city’s seamless blend of tradition and modernity makes it the perfect stage for a world-class knowledge hub. If realised, this project could reverse the talent outflow by creating global-standard education and career opportunities within the state while also drawing students and faculty from across India and abroad. Odisha’s coastal advantage further strengthens this proposition, making Puri an ideal anchor for India’s Act East policy and positioning the state as a regional hub for knowledge diplomacy.

The vision for the project is ambitious yet transformative. Inspired by the Ivy League environment of Boston, the proposed Education City is set to be a landmark initiative in India’s higher education landscape. With a projected investment of ₹15,000 crore and the capacity to host over 2,00,000 students, it promises to become a cornerstone of Odisha’s growth story. The project envisages a multidisciplinary university, advanced R\&D and innovation hubs, a premier medical school linked to a world-class hospital, pharma drug research facilities, and a modern sports complex with a stadium of international standards. At the heart of this hub will be a cutting-edge digital university offering advanced programs in artificial intelligence, fintech, green energy, and life sciences — preparing students to lead in the future global economy.

Beyond academics, the Education City aims to create a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem. The blueprint includes convention centres, cultural spaces, auditoriums, recreation hubs, and residential facilities for students, faculty, and staff. Together, these will create an environment where learning, innovation, and culture thrive in harmony.

The ripple effects of such a project could be transformational. It is expected to generate thousands of jobs across education, research, administration, hospitality, and allied industries, while accelerating urbanisation in the Puri–Konark–Bhubaneswar corridor. By drawing global talent, the initiative could also enrich Odisha’s tourism and cultural sectors. Moreover, by fostering entrepreneurship through incubation centres and industry-academia partnerships, it could seed a new wave of startups. Equity and inclusivity are built into the design, with provisions for scholarships, tribal outreach programmes, and initiatives to promote women’s safety and participation. With Odisha’s strategic location along India’s eastern seaboard, the project also holds immense potential to attract students from ASEAN nations, further strengthening India’s Act East policy.

Examples from across the globe illustrate the catalytic impact of such initiatives. Just as MIT shaped Boston’s innovation economy and Stanford University propelled the growth of Silicon Valley, the white paper highlights that a similar transformation could unfold in Odisha if the Education City in Puri takes shape.

At a broader level, the project dovetails seamlessly with India’s national priorities. Both the National Education Policy 2020 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 call for the creation of globally benchmarked institutions capable of competing with the world’s best. By situating such a hub in Puri, Odisha could play a critical role in realising this national ambition while simultaneously addressing its own developmental imperatives.

The choice facing Odisha is clear and urgent. The state can continue to watch its youth leave, taking with them ideas and energy that could have fuelled its growth. Or it can act boldly, investing in a future where its brightest minds see Odisha not as a stepping stone, but as the destination of choice to learn, innovate, and lead.

Puri, with its unmatched cultural significance, strategic geographic position, and institutional promise, stands out as the ideal site for this transformation. With vision, leadership, and timely investment, it could emerge as the city that not only reverses Odisha’s brain drain but also establishes India as a formidable force in global higher education. If realised, the proposed Education City will not just be a project — it will be the beginning of a movement that turns today’s brain drain into tomorrow’s global gain.