{"id":81567,"date":"2026-08-13T17:18:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=81567"},"modified":"2026-08-13T18:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:01:13","slug":"challenges-in-indias-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/13-08-2026\/challenges-in-indias-higher-education","title":{"rendered":"Challenges Facing India\u2019s Higher Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Issues Related To Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s universities continue to lag in major global rankings despite abundant talent, while institutions in China, Singapore and Hong Kong have rapidly strengthened research, autonomy and global competitiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Higher Education in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has one of the world\u2019s largest higher-education systems, comprising universities, colleges and standalone institutions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its expansion has significantly improved access, but quality, research productivity, employability and institutional governance remain uneven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current Statistics (AISHE, 2023-24)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): <\/strong>According to <strong>All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE, 2023-24)<\/strong><strong>GER<\/strong> was <strong>30 in 2023-24<\/strong> which was <strong>23.7 in 2014-15.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Female GER <\/strong>has risen to <strong>31.2 in 2023-24<\/strong> from 22.9 in 2014-15;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scheduled Castes (SC)<\/strong> GER have increased to <strong>27.8 in 2023-24<\/strong> from 18.9 in 2014-15; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scheduled Tribes (ST) GER<\/strong>&nbsp; have increased to 22.8 in 2023-24 from 13.5 in 2014-15.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender Parity Index (GPI): <\/strong>It measures the relative access to education of males and females, and it stands at 1.08 for 2023-24.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has <strong>remained above 1.0 for seven consecutive years<\/strong>, indicating consistently higher female participation in higher education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enrolment in Higher Education:<\/strong> It has been continuously increasing from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.46 crore in 2022-23 and <strong>4.50 crore in 2023-24<\/strong> (i.e. 31.5% increase since 2014-15).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increase in female enrolment<\/strong> in higher education from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.18 crore in 2022-23 and <strong>2.24 crore in 2023-24<\/strong> (i.e. 42.2% increase since 2014-15).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>enrolment of SC students<\/strong> has increased to <strong>69.72 lakh in 2023-24<\/strong> from 46.07 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 51.4% since 2014-15).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>enrolment of ST students<\/strong> has increased to 28.83 lakh in 2023-24 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 75.7% since 2014-15).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similarly, the <strong>enrolment of Other Backward Classes (OBC) students<\/strong> has increased to<strong> 1.80 crore in 2023-24 <\/strong>from 1.13 crore in 2014-15 (60.2% increase).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>STEM Enrolment: <\/strong>It has risen from 91.5 lakh in 2014-15 to <strong>1.02 crore in 2023-24.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The share of female students in STEM enrolment has risen from 38.4% in 2014-15 to <strong>44% in 2023-24<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The total number of faculty\/teachers <strong>increased to 17.32 lakh in 2023-24<\/strong>, of which <strong>55.1% are male and 44.9% are female.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The female faculty strength has increased from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 to <strong>7.78 lakh in 2023-24.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"81a9ad\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"795\" height=\"307\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-106.png\" alt=\"AISHE, 2023-24\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-81568\" style=\"--dominant-color: #81a9ad; aspect-ratio:2.589708352420217;width:715px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-106.png 795w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-106-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-106-768x297.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Issues &amp; Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Merit and Integrity: <\/strong>Appointments, promotions and admissions must consistently prioritise <strong>merit, fairness and institutional interest<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Perceived favouritism or opaque decision-making damages institutional credibility and teaches students that rules need not apply equally to everyone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Misunderstanding Universities: <\/strong>A university is neither a conventional government department nor a corporation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a <strong>learning and knowledge-producing community<\/strong> requiring academic freedom, professional autonomy and accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uniform policies can therefore be counterproductive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Faculty evaluation should recognise differences between disciplines, teaching and research-oriented institutions, institutional size and local conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excessive bureaucratic control can also undermine initiative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership Deficit: <\/strong>Sound policies often fail because institutions lack capable academic leadership and robust implementation mechanisms.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A culture that punishes every failure discourages experimentation; institutions instead need <strong>responsible risk-taking, continuous learning, mentoring and leadership development<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Research and Employability Gaps: <\/strong>India&#8217;s research ecosystem remains concentrated in a limited number of institutions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Weak industry-academia linkages, inadequate research support, limited internationalisation and uneven faculty quality contribute to low employability and modest global research visibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Systemic Unevenness: <\/strong>Islands of excellence cannot transform the entire ecosystem.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Policies designed around the weakest institutions and uniformly imposed across diverse universities may restrict stronger institutions while failing to adequately strengthen weaker ones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related Efforts &amp; Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>NEP 2020:<\/strong> Sets the overall direction like multidisciplinary education, institutional autonomy, internationalisation, and a stronger research orientation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NEP 2020 had proposed replacing this fragmented set-up with a single body, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The HECI legislation is still pending, so reform is happening body by body instead of through one unified regulator.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):<\/strong> ANRF was set up under the ANRF Act, 2023, absorbing the earlier Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is India&#8217;s apex research-funding body that NEP 2020 had envisaged.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NIRF: <\/strong>Domestic performance benchmarking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutions of Eminence (IoE):<\/strong> The IoE scheme was launched in 2017\u201318 with a target of 20 institutions with 10 public and 10 private granted greater autonomy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PM-USHA:<\/strong> Support for improving state higher-education institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Academic Bank of Credits and multiple-entry\/exit framework:<\/strong> Greater curricular flexibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SWAYAM and DIKSHA:<\/strong> Expansion of digital learning and access.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Strengthening Higher Education in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ensure Accountable Autonomy: <\/strong>Grant universities greater <strong>academic, administrative and financial autonomy<\/strong> with clearly defined accountability mechanisms.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce excessive bureaucratic interference while strengthening transparent audits and outcome-based evaluation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promote Merit-Based Governance: <\/strong>Ensure <strong>transparent, merit-based appointments and promotions<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strengthen institutional leadership through professional selection, mentoring and regular capacity-building of academic administrators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adopt Differentiated Governance: <\/strong>Avoid a <strong>one-size-fits-all approach<\/strong>. Develop different evaluation and promotion frameworks for research-intensive, teaching-oriented, multidisciplinary and specialised institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthen Research &amp; Innovation: <\/strong>Increase competitive and predictable research funding.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promote <strong>industry\u2013academia collaboration, interdisciplinary research, international partnerships and technology transfer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen the Anusandhan National Research Foundation as a catalyst for research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Improve Faculty Quality: <\/strong>Strengthen faculty recruitment based on merit and subject expertise.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encourage continuous professional development, pedagogical innovation and international academic exposure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on Employability: <\/strong>Align curricula with <strong>emerging industry and societal needs<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expand internships, apprenticeships, vocational exposure, entrepreneurship programmes and soft-skill development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Build a Culture of Learning: <\/strong>Replace a <strong>fear-of-failure culture<\/strong> with responsible experimentation and institutional learning.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use periodic reviews, peer learning and evidence-based policy to improve academic practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduce Regional &amp; Institutional Gaps: <\/strong>Provide targeted support to weaker institutions while allowing high-performing universities greater flexibility.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promote collaboration and resource-sharing among institutions to prevent isolated \u2018islands of excellence\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthen Internationalisation: <\/strong>Attract reputed foreign faculty and students, expand global research collaborations and encourage joint degrees.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create conditions that enable Indian universities to compete more effectively in global rankings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q] <\/strong>Discuss the major challenges facing India\u2019s higher education sector and suggest measures to make Indian universities globally competitive.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/india-higher-education-university-reform-10830573\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-13-08-2026.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 13 August, 2026<\/p>\n<p>India\u2019s universities continue to lag in major global rankings despite abundant talent, while institutions in China, Singapore and Hong Kong have rapidly strengthened research, autonomy and global competitiveness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":81571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/higher-education-in-india.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81567"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81608,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81567\/revisions\/81608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}