The move will provide employment to a large number of youths, he told an International Conference on "Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility" at Sanghol in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district.
India has witnessed exponential progress through the Public-Private Partnership in the past couple of decades, the minister said.
"Due to quality education, our youth feel privileged and more empowered today," an official release quoting Sharma said.
Schemes like MNREGA have earned great acclaim among the masses, he said.
On the occasion, University Grants Commission chairman Prof Ved Parkash said India has the largest system of higher education in the world.
Referring to general proclivity of youths towards science and technology related disciplines, he said humanities and languages are equally important in life.
