Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that India cannot truly aspire to become a ‘Vishwaguru’ — or a global leader — unless it first guarantees quality education and healthcare for all its citizens. Speaking at a recent event, Kejriwal stressed that while India has made progress in various sectors, the foundation of a developed and self-reliant nation lies in ensuring that every child receives a good education and every citizen has access to affordable, quality medical care.

I chose to write about this topic because it reflects one of the most important debates shaping India’s future — the question of whether economic growth alone is enough to make a country great. Kejriwal’s statement is not just political; it echoes a wider sentiment that social infrastructure, especially in education and health, forms the backbone of sustainable development. Without strengthening these two pillars, dreams of global leadership or ‘Vishwaguru’ status will remain aspirational. It is a reminder that development is not measured by skyscrapers and GDP figures but by how well a country nurtures its people.

Kejriwal’s statement and its core message

During his address, Arvind Kejriwal argued that before India can be recognised as a world leader, it must fix its most basic yet vital systems — the education and healthcare sectors. He said that no nation has achieved greatness without first ensuring that its citizens are educated and healthy. “We can call ourselves a Vishwaguru only when every child, whether rich or poor, studies in a good school and every person receives the best medical treatment without worrying about money,” he said.

He further emphasised that despite India’s advancements in technology, defence, and economics, the everyday struggles of ordinary people for essential services highlight the gap between aspiration and reality. “We talk about becoming a global power, but millions of families in India still can’t afford to send their children to decent schools or pay hospital bills,” he added.

Kejriwal’s remarks draw from his long-standing governance focus in Delhi, where his government has repeatedly highlighted education and health reforms as the foundation of their policy model.

Why education and healthcare matter in nation-building

Education and healthcare are not just social welfare issues — they are economic enablers. A strong education system produces a skilled, productive workforce that drives innovation and growth. Similarly, a healthy population ensures higher efficiency, fewer workdays lost, and reduced long-term public expenditure.

According to UNESCO and WHO reports, countries that invest heavily in education and healthcare achieve higher human development indexes and more equitable growth. For India, where over 250 million school-going children and over 50 crore citizens depend on public healthcare, the need for systemic reform is undeniable.

In recent years, India has seen improvement through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, National Education Policy 2020, and PM SHRI schools, but implementation gaps persist — particularly in rural and underserved areas. Kejriwal’s statement resonates with this challenge, urging policymakers to look beyond slogans and focus on outcomes that directly improve people’s lives.

Delhi model and its relevance to national policy

Kejriwal’s comments also underline his government’s “Delhi Model” — a governance approach centred on free, quality education and healthcare. Under his administration, Delhi’s government schools have undergone major infrastructure upgrades, including smart classrooms, better teacher training, and international partnerships. Similarly, the Mohalla Clinics initiative has made basic healthcare accessible to millions, earning recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO).

While the model has been praised, it has also drawn criticism for being limited in scope and not easily scalable nationwide. Yet, its success demonstrates that targeted investment in these sectors can yield tangible results within a few years. “What we have done in Delhi proves that transforming education and healthcare is not impossible — it only requires political will,” Kejriwal said during his address.

India’s current standing in education and healthcare

Despite being the world’s fifth-largest economy, India’s spending on education and health remains relatively low compared to global standards.

• According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, India spends about 3.1% of its GDP on education, below the global average of 4.5%.
• Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that India’s public healthcare expenditure is around 2.1% of GDP, which is among the lowest in major economies.
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows improvements in literacy and maternal health, but regional disparities remain stark.

Kejriwal’s remarks bring these figures back into focus, suggesting that the path to becoming a global leader must start with investing more in human capital — the true engine of national progress.