India, June 9 -- India stands at a crossroads where today's decisions will determine whether the next generation inherits opportunities or struggles. Education emerges as our most powerful transformation tool-yet we have allowed it to become a commodity where profit often overshadows purpose.

The tragedy is not our inability to build world-class institutions. The Indian Institutes of Technology, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Indian Institutes of Management demonstrate that excellence is possible. These monuments to public education consistently produce globally competitive graduates, transforming bright minds from villages into leaders who drive India's growth story.

Sundar Pichai's parents-his father an electrica...