Search

The trend towards privatization of higher education has been a dominant feature in India, particularly during the decade 2010-20. The main research question enquired in the current research is regarding the evolution of privatization in India during the period 2010 to 2020 and its consequences for access to higher education in India. The methodology used in the paper is descriptive analysis, based on secondary data. It was observed that, while the absolute expenditure of the government on higher education has amplified, the expenditure as a percentage of GDP has reduced during 2010-20. The proportionate share of private institutes and enrolments has increased consistently and rapidly, and that of the public sector has either stagnated or reduced.

The Indian higher education system is the largest in the world in terms of the number of institutions and second largest in enrollments. About 33.3 million students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions, but the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) is still very low at 23.6%. There are about 757 universities and 38,056 colleges in India. This mammoth network of higher education institutions include a large private sector that has emerged and experienced very rapid growth during last two decades. Despite this growth, Indian higher education is facing several challenges with regard to equity, efficiency and quality. It is still not inclusive, globally competitive, and innovative. The present paper examines the Indian higher education growth deception in this context and vindicate the imperative need for effective intervention policies.

Higher education is now widely accepted as a foremost instrument for fostering economic growth. The Indian higher education system is the largest in the world in terms of the number of institutions and the second largest in enrollments. About 29.6 million students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions in India. There are around 712 universities and 36,671 colleges in India. This mammoth network of higher education institutions includes a large private sector that has emerged explicitly and outsized during last two decades. The overall share of the unaided private higher education institutions has reached 63.9 percent, and the share of student enrollments in these institutions has reached 58.9 percent. The authors make an attempt to present an overview of Indian higher education and within the same frame tries to delineate and identify the advent and growth of private higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Intellectual Economics is the property of Intellectual Economics / Mykolas Romeris University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)