The Straits Times

There may now be more people speaking English in China than in India, despite widespread use of the language in the South Asian country, a study has reported.

This is because India is falling behind other countries - including China - in efforts to get more people to use English, according to the study, English Next India, done by the British Council.

According to BBC News, which published a report this week, the study put the blame for India’s predicament on a shortage of teachers and high-quality institutions in India, and said that the cause was ‘wider problems in Indian education’.

"Much of the world is catching up with India in terms of the English proficiency of their populations," said the report’s author, language researcher David Gradoll.

His study noted that an increasing number of Indians are seeking to learn English, but the rate of improvement of their English language skills has been hampered by problems with India’s education, allowing other countries to speed ahead in the race to implement the teaching of English in primary schools sooner.