India’s online higher education market is entering a new phase of growth, powered by students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, according to Siddharth Banerjee, CEO of Univo Education.

Banerjee said the country’s digital learning landscape is evolving beyond metro audiences, with smaller cities increasingly turning to online degrees and certifications for flexible, affordable learning and better career outcomes. “India is not one market — it is many Indias. Learning models built only for metro audiences often don’t work for Bharat,” Banerjee noted.

A key driver of this shift is India’s mobile-first reality. Industry studies show that 79% of students attend online classes on smartphones, while only 17% use laptops. This has pushed platforms to redesign content for smaller screens, patchy internet access, and varied learner readiness.

Banerjee emphasised that learners outside metros often need more than just content access. “Assisted onboarding, WhatsApp and IVR-based help, and local facilitators can make online education more usable for learners outside large cities,” he said.

Acceptance of online education is also improving with the UGC’s approval of regulated online degree programmes under NEP 2020. This shift is moving the sector from short-term courses to formal, university-led qualifications, boosting credibility among students and employers.

Employability remains central to online education’s appeal. Univo partners with industry leaders such as TCS iON, HCLTech, KPMG, Medvarsity, and Paytm to provide internships, capstone projects, and live industry sessions, ensuring learners gain practical exposure alongside academic credentials.

Looking ahead, Banerjee linked the sector’s expansion to India’s ambition of raising the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 50% by 2035, up from the current 28%. He also highlighted the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision to strengthen India’s education ecosystem.

“As India’s economy expands, education models must become more flexible, affordable and aligned with industry needs — especially for learners beyond metros,” Banerjee said.

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