International journal of Education, Technology and Social Sciences

Globalization has significantly influenced the restructuring of education systems in India since the economic liberalization of the 1990s. Education has increasingly become a critical site where global economic forces, political decision-making, and national development priorities interact. Using a political economy and human capital framework, the present study examines how globalization-driven policies have transformed educational governance, funding patterns, curriculum design, and institutional structures across school and higher education sectors. The analysis highlights major reforms such as privatization, public–private partnerships, standardization of curricula, outcomebased assessment, and the rapid expansion of higher education institutions, many of which reflect neoliberal policy orientations promoted by international organizations. Alongside these changes, enduring challenges related to equity, quality, regional imbalance, language diversity, and the digital divide continue to shape educational outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups. While globalization has contributed to increased access, diversification, and internationalization of education, it has also intensified market-driven approaches and widened socio-economic disparities. A critical evaluation of these developments suggests that meaningful educational transformation requires a context-sensitive approach that balances global influences with democratic governance, inclusive policies, and social justice considerations.