India now has the second largest higher education system (after China) in the world. After spending most of its energy on simply meeting the needs of expanding participation in recent years, India, under Prime Minister Modi's second administration, is finally turning its attention to boosting quality, increasing research productivity, and for the first time focusing on internationalization through specific policies and programs. India aims to join the world of global higher education for the first time. The challenges of achieving success are substantial in the context of India's geopolitical and academic realities. This article provides a glimpse at the current realities of Indian higher education and focuses on the plans and initiatives that have been proposed by the Modi government. It is always relevant, when considering India, to keep in mind that there is often a disconnect between plans and implementation.