Main Article Content
Abstract
The primary concern of the paper is to assess the present Indian higher education scenario. It is tested that the infrastructure and the enrolment are growing at the same pace and there is no significant difference between their growth rates. However, Cluster Analysis and Sopher’s Index reflect that the fruits of expansion in higher education are not reaching all corners of the country. The benefits are restricted to certain states and the urban areas, while the other states and the rural areas are still marginalised in access and outcome as far higher education is concerned. The extent of inequality across the states is captured by construction of unidimensional Gini index and multidimensional inequality index following Maasoumi’s methodology. The values show prevalence of disparity across the states and no significant reduction in inequality as such over time. As far as setting standards for quality assurance in higher education is concerned, a significant but very low correlation between the two major assessing institutions, NAAC and NIRF, seems to enhance the dilemma of the higher education institutions.The need of the hour are right policies as a necessary requirement for the higher education trajectory to be sustained at a prestigious and positive level that benefits the whole nation.