The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly drive reforms and continuous improvement in India’s growing school education sector. The agreement aims to build a long-term collaboration between both organisations in areas such as policy advocacy, research, knowledge-sharing events, and global partnerships, with a shared vision to enhance the quality of K-12 education across the country.
Largest K-12 System in the World
India’s school education system is the largest in the world, with over 260 million students studying in approximately 1.5 million schools under more than 50 different examination boards. Recognising the scale and diversity of this sector, the collaboration between FICCI and ARISE seeks to create an inclusive framework that encourages innovation, equity, and excellence. The MoU was officially signed on September 12, 2025, at FICCI House, New Delhi, during the 8th ARISE Annual School Education Conference held from September 11 to 13. The signing was attended by key representatives from both organisations and members of the ARISE Governing Board. The agreement was formalised by Ms. Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, and Mr. Vinesh Menon, Director General & CEO, ARISE, in the presence of Mr. Praveen Raju, President, ARISE & Founder, Suchitra Academy; Mr. Prabhat Jain, Immediate Past President, ARISE & Director, Pathways Schools; Dr. Arunabh Singh, Senior Vice President, ARISE & Director, Nehru World School; Ms. Silpi Sahoo, Vice President, ARISE & Chairperson, Sai International School; Mr. Vardan Kabra, Vice President, ARISE & Founder, Fountainhead School; and Mr. Vedant Khaitan, Vice President, ARISE & Vice Chairman, The Khaitan School. FICCI was represented by Mr. Manab Majumdar, Senior Advisor, and Dr. Rajesh Pankaj, Director, Skills.
Shared Vision for Education Reform
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, said, “FICCI has always been a strong proponent of K-12 education and has supported ARISE since its inception in 2016. School education in India is evolving rapidly, and ARISE is well-positioned to drive meaningful reforms. This MoU strengthens our collective resolve to transform the education ecosystem.” Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Praveen Raju, President, ARISE, highlighted the long-standing partnership between the two organisations. “This MoU reaffirms the shared vision of FICCI and ARISE to advance school education in India. FICCI, being the country’s oldest industry chamber, has consistently recognised education as a pillar of national development. Together, we aim to reimagine the role of schools in shaping future-ready citizens,” he stated.
A New Era for School Education Collaboration
Expressing his optimism, Mr. Vinesh Menon, Director General & CEO, ARISE, said, “ARISE was incubated at FICCI nine years ago and has since contributed significantly to policy advocacy and regulatory reforms. With this MoU, ARISE now stands as India’s only industry chamber exclusively focused on K-12 education, supported by FICCI’s strong institutional framework.” He added that the collaboration will help bring together academia, industry, and government to accelerate education reforms and contribute to the vision of making “Viksit Bharat” a reality within the next two decades.
