India has almost achieved Universal Elementary Education (UEE) and now the quality of education draws attention and concern. The Ministry of Human Resource Development which deals with teacher education suggests that voices of student teachers at elementary teacher education institutions should be studied to foster a new genre of school teachers capable of enhancing quality. This paper reviews teacher education in India and examines profiles of contemporary student teachers studying at a district teacher education institute. Their academic performance has risen recently and most of them are first generation learners of tertiary education. When they become school teachers, India would move forward more resolutely to address the anxiety of UEE with quality. Further study on student teachers is needed to innovate curricula for teacher preparation.