The Crisis of Higher Education in India

The Indian higher education system is facing a crisis that is affecting its ability to build world class higher education institutions. Issues relating to quality, access and equity are some of the significant challenges of the higher education system in India. The historic context of the evolution of higher education system in India had focused on expansion and access with a view to providing opportunities for higher education to large number of aspiring students. This has led to a situation where quality and excellence have been given lesser importance. Since the Indian independence in 1947, there has been a significant expansion of higher education in both the public and private sectors with a stronger impetus since 1980s in private higher education. In recent times, the debate surrounding the need for the Indian higher education institutions to offer world class education has focused on higher education policy, regulation, and the governance of universities.