Abstract India’s higher education system like IITs and IIMs ranks among the largest in the world. Current status of Higher Education-The All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) for the academic year 2021–22, published in January 2024, reveals a substantial increase in student enrolment, which has risen to 4.33 crore. At the undergraduate level, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program remains the most sought-after, attracting 34.2% of students. This is followed by science (14.8%), commerce (13.3%), and engineering and technology (11.8%). At the postgraduate level, social sciences lead with an enrolment of approximately 10.8 lakh students. In PhD programs, engineering is the most popular discipline in terms of enrolment, followed by science and social sciences. Challenges in Higher Education: Financing – The state's failure to adequately finance the expanding higher education system has led to a swift increase in private higher education. Enrolment-The demographic enrolled in higher education predominantly comprises urban metropolitan residents. Conversely, rural enrolment in higher education remains significantly low. Accreditation - Motivated by market prospects and entrepreneurial enthusiasm, numerous institutions are capitalizing on the lenient regulatory framework to provide 'degrees' that lack approval from Indian authorities. Quality-The structure and quality of programs are inadequate and fail to provide objectives that align with the fundamental industrial need for "Skilled professionals." Politics – The Post-secondary education is a critical matter in India. It is heavily influenced by government participation.
Mulaje et al. (Tue,) studied this question.