The estimated requirement includes approximately 0.9 billion sq. ft. of additional infrastructure for private unaided K–12 schools and around 0.4 billion sq. ft. for private unaided higher education institutions. The demand is supported by India's large youth population, rising educational aspirations and the need to expand capacity across both segments.
The report highlights growing institutional investor interest in scalable premium K–12 education platforms, particularly in affluent urban markets. Investors are also evaluating structured operating company–property company (OpCo–PropCo) models, which separate real estate ownership from academic operations.
“India’s growing requirement for education infrastructure presents opportunities for real estate developers and institutional investors. As private education providers expand their presence across markets, scalable infrastructure and operating models can support long-term growth. Partnerships between developers and established education operators could play an important role in meeting this demand,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO, India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE.
India’s education infrastructure landscape is also diversifying geographically. Established metropolitan markets continue to anchor organized private schooling and higher education, while select tier-II cities are attracting investor interest as institutions evaluate expansion into regional markets. In higher education, the entry and planned expansion of international universities, supported by an evolving regulatory framework, could create further opportunities for academic infrastructure within established commercial and institutional ecosystems.
“Education real estate requires a selective, market-led investment approach, given the differing demand dynamics and operating requirements across K–12 and higher education. Established education hubs and emerging cities with strong student populations offer opportunities for expansion, but project viability will depend on location, infrastructure suitability and partnerships with credible education operators. Aligning these factors will be important for developing scalable education real estate portfolios,” said Rami Kaushal, Managing Director, Consulting and Valuation Services, India, Middle East and Africa, CBRE.
