Current Status of Higher Education in India

1. Higher Education in
India
HARIHARA BHESERA
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF PUNJAB, BATHINDA

2. Introduction
 India has the 3rd largest system of higher education next to China and
USA.
 According to the national system of education higher education is started
after 12th years of schooling in India.
 Vast number of courses are provided in higher education covering the field
of Science, Technology, Humanities and Social Science and Teaching, etc.
 Fundamental aim of higher education is to educate, and train Indian
citizens and undertake research to serve for the welfare and progress of
Indian society.

3. Historical Background
 The history of education in India traced back to the ancient Vedic and
Buddhist system of education.
 Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramsila, etc. established during 5th and 4th BC were the
great examples of higher education in India.
 Ancient education was mainly for self-attainment and to be self-reliant.
 There was a lack in higher education during Medieval and British period in
India.
 A remarkable change has been seen in the post-independent India.
Government has been taken numerous efforts in order reform and
strengthen the higher education system in India.

4. Cont….
 Sera Moore College, Calcutta was the first institute to receive the status of
University in 1829 in India.
 In 1857, University of Calcutta, University of Bombay, and University of
Madras were established on the model of London University based on the
recommendations of Wood’s Despatch.
 Later on, Panjab University, Lahore in 1882 and Allahabad University in
1887 established to strengthen higher education in India.
 As of 1947, India had 20 universities, and 695 colleges.

5. Current Scenario
(Source: Higher Education Portal of India)
Sr. no. Type of Universities Esablishment Number
1 Central University Act of Parliament 54
2 State University Act of State Legislature 416
3 Private University Private Enterprises, NGOs 361
4 Deemed University Private Enterprises (20
Years)
125
5 Institute Of National Importance Act of Parliament 159
6 Colleges State Legislature, Private
Enterprises
52,627

6. Cont….
 India has recorded 26.3 percent of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) having
3.74 crore students In 2018-19 which has been increased from 25.8
percent GER having 3.66 crore students in 2017-18 (AISHE).
 Presently India has 24:1 students-teacher ratio having 14,16,299 teachers
according to the report of AISHE 2018-19.

7. Trends in Higher Education
Open and Distance Learning
 Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the largest open
university in the world having 4 million students over 21 schools, 67
regional centres and 29 overseas centres over 15 countries.
 13 state open universities have been set up in India which offers distance
education with diversified courses.
 Orissa State Open University is the most youngest one.

8. Online Learning
 SWAYAM- Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds is
India’s MOOC platform launched by MHRD, Govt. of India.
 Diversified courses in science, technology and humanities are being
provided by different partnering institution.
 Currently SWAYAM has 12,541,992 enrolled students.
 A very number of universities and institution are also providing online
courses.

9. Commissions Before Independence
 Charter Act, 1913 – East India Company
 Macaulay’s Minute, 1935 – Lord Macaulay
 Wood’s Despatch, 1954 – Charles Wood
 Hunter Commission, 1882 – William Wilson Hunter
 Sadler Commission, 1917 – Michael Sadler

10. Commission in Post-Independent India
 University Education Commission, 1948
 Kothari Commission, 1964-66
 National Education Policy, 1986/Programme of Action, 1992
 Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, 2013
 New Education Policy 2020

11. Regulatory Bodies
 University Grants Commission (UGC) is the main governing body of Indian
Higher Education which main focus is on the coordination, determination, and
maintenance of standard of teaching, examination, and research in Indian
universities.
 Medical Council of India (MCI) for establishing uniform and high standard
Medical Education in India.
 All India Council of Technical education (AICTE) is the main governing body of
technical education in India.
 National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an autonomous body of
Ministry of Education, GOI and funded by UGC. The fundamental goal of
NAAC is to assess and accredit higher education institutions in order to help
them to work continuously to improve the quality of education.