Debasish Biswas

Country head, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (India)

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
India’s children and youth deserve ‘best in class’ quality education at affordable cost, benchmarked with international standards. This is the top priority for the nation. 

How best to upgrade government colleges?
They should immediately start focusing on attracting faculty with industry experience. Practical relevance will give students an edge. 

Thinker/philosopher you admire most.
Aristotle.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore.

Your leadership style.
Collaboration 100 percent, zero conflict.

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
No. Both defence and education are equally important. 

My favourite book on education?
Highlighting only one title as a favourite is an injustice to others. 

For or against the RTE Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
Fundamentally, I believe the government should shoulder a major part of the responsibility to provide education, as Indian citizens are already paying substantial taxes and other surcharges.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of CIMA India?
Starting with a small liaison office in 2013, today we have three full-fledged offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, and we are growing at a CAGR of 25 percent.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? 
Highly optimistic. India is poised to become a global superpower in the years to come, and India’s education system will be the most preferred destination for students worldwide.