India Rising: Why the Future Is Being Built Here, Not Abroad
For a long time, ambition in India carried a one-way ticket. Students dreamed of foreign universities, parents saved relentlessly for overseas degrees, and success was measured by how far one could go from home. But the tide has turned. In 2025, the smarter question isn’t “Where can I go?”—it’s “Why leave when the world’s biggest opportunities are being built right here?”
Just look at what’s happening around us. From Zerodha redefining retail investing, to Lenskart scaling globally from an Indian base, to Shaadi.com creating a cultural category long before dating apps existed, India is no longer following trends—it’s setting them. Swiggy and Zomato have made hyperlocal delivery a case study for global markets. And now, a new wave—powered by Finternet—is showing how India is solving problems the world still struggles with, from banking to retail to financial inclusion.
The numbers tell the story. UPI processed more than 20 billion transactions in August 2025 alone, at near-zero cost, while expanding to 7 countries. The Account Aggregator framework is handling hundreds of thousands of daily consented data flows, enabling faster, fairer credit decisions. OCEN is bridging India’s $20–25 trillion MSME credit gap through open APIs. Put simply: while the world debates the future of finance, India is already running it at scale.
And it’s not just fintech. Bengaluru, now ranked among the world’s top 15 startup hubs, is producing unicorns, hosting over half the world’s GCCs, and serving as a testbed where students, founders, and global companies work side by side. It’s the only city where a student can pitch a startup idea at breakfast, attend class with global faculty in the afternoon, and test their prototype with real users before dinner.
For students, this means building on live rails, not theoretical case studies—whether for profit or for impact. For parents, it means giving your children world-class education, mentors, and exposure without the cost, risk, and uncertainty of sending them abroad. For industry leaders, it means a chance to co-create with young innovators in an ecosystem that is resilient, ambitious, and globally relevant.
This is the essence of India Rising 2025. It’s not just another education summit—it’s a mirror to the moment we are living in. A moment when India is shifting from “Make in India” to “Made for the World.” A moment when brain drain is giving way to brain gain. A moment when the question India vs Abroad isn’t just an academic debate, but a defining choice for families and institutions.
Call to Action
On September 13th at Prestige Falcon Towers, Bengaluru, India Rising 2025 brings together global thinkers, Indian innovators, parents, students, and educators to debate, contest, and co-create the roadmap for the next decade of higher education and entrepreneurship.
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Because the opportunity is not tomorrow, not overseas. The opportunity is here. Now. In India.