Indian universities have expanded finance education rapidly over the past decade. Enrolments are up, course offerings are wider, and institutional ambition is clear. Yet when measured against international finance credentials and workplace expectations, gaps remain. According to Sripal Jain, Co-founder of Simandhar Education, the issue is not intent but structure.Jain has trained thousands of students for global finance qualifications, including the Certified Public Accountant examination. From that vantage point, he sees Indian finance degrees progressing but not fully aligned with global standards. “Indian universities have made significant strides in areas of financial education,” he said. “But there are still areas that we fall short in fully aligning with the international standards.”
Where theory overtakes application
The core limitation, Jain argues, lies in how finance is taught. Indian commerce programmes continue to privilege theoretical instruction, while global certifications prioritise application. “The biggest gap I feel is the practical implementation of the concepts,” he said.International finance certifications are designed to be completed in under a year. Their focus is narrow and outcome-oriented. Students work through real-world scenarios, industry cases, and problem-solving exercises that mirror workplace demands. “These credentials are rooted in providing hands-on experience and a problem-solving mindset,” Jain explained. “So that directly translates into the workplace.”By contrast, most undergraduate and postgraduate commerce degrees in India offer limited exposure to live projects or applied financial analysis. While elite management institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management and Indian School of Business have embedded this approach into their Master of Business Administration programmes, Jain notes that the commerce stream has lagged behind.“An Indian university still needs to integrate more practical learning projects, case studies, and live projects that connect students to the realities of global finance,” he said. “In commerce, we do not have that.”
The missing global context
Finance is no longer bounded by domestic regulation alone. Capital flows, taxation, compliance, and reporting increasingly operate across borders. Jain believes Indian curricula have not kept pace with this shift.“Finance is a dynamic, ever evolving field,” he said. “International relations and financial instruments are constantly changing.” Yet many university programmes continue to focus largely on domestic accounting standards and local regulatory frameworks.According to Jain, students need deeper exposure to international accounting systems, cross-border taxation, and global compliance practices. Partnerships with international universities and firms can play a role here. “There are a lot of cross border taxations, compliances and collaborations happening with international firms and universities,” he said. “That can provide the student with the much needed exposure to global finance.”
Technology as a curriculum gap
Another fault line is technology. Global finance roles increasingly require familiarity with automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain systems, and data-driven decision-making. Jain sees this shift accelerating rather than stabilising.“The financial world is increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, blockchain, automation,” he said, pointing also to emerging discussions around quantum computing. These technologies are no longer peripheral. They shape how financial modelling, auditing, compliance, and risk management are performed.Indian institutions, he argues, must respond by embedding digital skills into finance education rather than treating them as add-ons. “The Indian institutions need to equip themselves with the technology and the necessary digital skills that will make them tech savvy and competitive in the global context,” Jain said.
A transition already underway
The picture, however, is not static. Jain acknowledges that universities are beginning to adapt. Industry partnerships, integrated global certification pathways, and digitally oriented curricula are becoming more common. “We have seen universities taking steps in this direction,” he said, noting a “growing recognition” of the need to align with global standards.Still, he frames the shift as a process rather than a completed reform. Indian finance education, in his assessment, is at an inflection point. With structural changes in curriculum design, global exposure, and technology integration, universities have the opportunity to close the gap.“The journey is ongoing,” Jain said. “Indian universities can be at the forefront of the global systems.”Whether they get there will depend on how quickly theory yields space to practice and how seriously global finance is treated as the baseline rather than the benchmark.
About the Author
