GEMS Education Announces Initial Investment of USD 30 Million in India Expansion, Plans 30+ Schools and 1,000 School Partnerships

Expansion strategy to be supported by a planned Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) focused on strengthening school infrastructure across India

Mumbai, 25.06.2026 – GEMS Education (India), part of the Dubai-based Varkey Group which operates GEMS Education, one of the world’s largest K-12 private school operators, has unveiled a comprehensive India expansion strategy anchored by an initial investment of up to USD 30 million over the next three to five years. The plan includes the development of more than 30 GEMS-operated schools, the creation of a nationwide network of over 1,000 GEMS Partner Schools, and the establishment of a dedicated School of Education focused on teacher training, leadership development and educational research. 

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Together, these initiatives aim to provide high-quality learning opportunities to more than three million learners, create career pathways for over 200,000 educators, and support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. It marks one of the most ambitious private-sector commitments to India’s school education ecosystem, combining direct school operations, strategic partnerships, teacher capacity building and education-focused infrastructure investment.

GEMS Education, which educates more than 200,000 students from over 176 nationalities across 10+ countries, plans to expand in India through a combination of build-to-suit campuses, school transformation initiatives, strategic collaborations with existing school operators, teacher education programmes and leadership development initiatives.

As part of its immediate growth roadmap, GEMS India has confirmed a pipeline of 21 GEMS-operated school projects. The first five schools are scheduled to open from the 2026 academic year across Greater Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan. A further 16 campuses are planned over the next two years across eight states, adding to the organisation’s existing network of schools in Gurgaon, Kochi and Lucknow NCR. Definite plans are already underway in cities including Ghaziabad, Pune, Coimbatore and Raipur.

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The GEMS-operated school network is expected to serve more than 100,000 learners while creating meaningful careers for over 10,000 educators. Schools within the network will offer a range of curricula including CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge and International Baccalaureate (IB), enabling access to globally benchmarked learning experiences across different segments.

Beyond its owned and operated schools, GEMS India has announced an asset-light expansion strategy through its “Mission 1000” initiative, which aims to establish a network of more than 1,000 GEMS Partner Schools across the country. The model will enable entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and existing school operators to leverage the GEMS brand, academic expertise and operational capabilities to strengthen high-quality schools at scale.

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In parallel, GEMS India is actively exploring collaborations to establish a dedicated School of Education. Drawing on the group’s 65-year legacy in teaching and learning, the institution will focus on teacher education, education leadership development and educational research. The initiative reflects GEMS’ belief that quality education can only be strengthened through highly capable teachers and leaders, while also creating global career pathways for Indian educators.

To support long-term educational infrastructure development, GEMS India is also in the process of setting up a dedicated Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under the provisions of the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012. The fund will focus on acquiring quality school infrastructure and developing new campuses in locations where demand for high-quality education significantly exceeds supply. It is also expected to create co-investment opportunities for institutional and strategic investors seeking long-duration, inflation-protected and yield-generating exposure to India’s education sector.

Commenting on the announcement, Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman, GEMS Education, says, “Quality education remains the most powerful catalyst for societal transformation. Our commitment in India is rooted in the belief that every child, regardless of geography or background, deserves access to world-class learning opportunities. Through our expansion plans, partnerships and investments in teacher development, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to India’s educational future and support the nation’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Francis Joseph, India CEO, GEMS Education, says, “India is at a defining moment in its education journey. Rising aspirations among families, rapid urbanisation and growing demand for globally benchmarked learning experiences are creating opportunities to reimagine school education at scale. Through a combination of campus development, partnerships, school transformation initiatives and investments in leadership and teacher development, we aim to expand access to high-quality education while maintaining the standards that define the GEMS learning experience globally. Our planned School of Education further reflects our conviction that teacher quality remains the single most important factor in shaping student outcomes.”

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About GEMS Education

GEMS Education is one of the world’s largest private K-12 education providers, with a 65-year legacy of delivering quality education across diverse geographies and communities. Founded by Sunny Varkey, the group educates more than 200,000 students from over 176 nationalities across 10+ countries through a network of schools offering multiple curriculum pathways. Guided by the belief that quality education can transform lives and societies, GEMS Education continues to expand access to world-class learning experiences, teacher development and educational excellence globally.