India has the second-largest higher education system in the world, with over 1,100 universities and 45,000 colleges serving 4.33 crore students. However, the country’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) stood at 28.4% in 2021-22, well below the global average of 36.7%. The National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 envisions increasing GER to 50% by 2035, but achieving this goal requires significant reforms in access, quality, and governance.
Challenges in State Public Universities
State Public Universities (SPUs) form the backbone of India’s higher education system, accommodating 81% of students. However, a recent NITI Aayog report, Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities, highlights serious challenges:
- Faculty Shortages: Over 40% of faculty positions remain vacant, leading to a high student-teacher ratio of 30:1, compared to the recommended 15:1.
- Infrastructure Gaps: More than 60% of SPUs lack sufficient hostel and accommodation facilities, limiting access for students from rural areas.
- Weak Industry Linkages: Less than 25% of SPUs have active collaborations with industries for research and employability training.
- Limited Research Facilities: Only 10% of SPUs have well-equipped research centers, affecting academic innovation.
- Digital Access Barriers: Just 32% of SPUs have fully functional digital libraries, restricting access to global research.
In states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, many SPUs have seen declining National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings due to a lack of faculty recruitment, increasing teacher workloads, and falling student admissions. Since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, neither state has conducted significant faculty hiring, severely impacting the teaching-learning process.
Key Reforms for SPU Revitalization
NITI Aayog’s report suggests nearly 80 policy recommendations focusing on four major areas:
- Quality Improvement – Hiring adequate faculty, enhancing research facilities, and promoting skill-based education.
- Funding and Financing – Increasing education spending beyond the current level, which remains at only half of the NEP-recommended 6% of GDP.
- Governance Reforms – Granting universities more autonomy to reduce political interference and improve decision-making.
- Enhancing Employability – Strengthening industry partnerships and introducing practical, job-oriented courses.
Ensuring Inclusive Higher Education
SPUs have played a crucial role in providing affordable education to lower and middle-income groups. In 2021-22, they accounted for 48.2% of women’s enrollment—5.5 percentage points higher than the university system average. They have also increased access for socially disadvantaged groups, with student enrollment from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities rising from 99.5 lakh in 2011-12 to 229.7 lakh in 2021-22.
For India to realize its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, SPUs must receive the attention they deserve. Strengthening governance, improving faculty recruitment, and expanding digital infrastructure will be critical in ensuring that these universities continue to drive inclusive and high-quality higher education.
