Prof D Mukherjee
India faces persistent geopolitical challenges from neighbours like Pakistan and China, compounded by recent tensions with Bangladesh. These threats necessitate not only military preparedness but also investments in education, research, and innovation, as intellectual and economic strength are often more enduring than military power. Despite rapid global advancements, India’s higher education system remains plagued by outdated teaching methods, underqualified faculty, and insufficient funding for research.Private institutions, though proliferating, epitomize these issues. Faculty members, even with advanced qualifications like NET or Ph.D., are grossly underpaid, with salaries as low as INR 10,000-15,000. According to the International Labour Organization’s Wage Report 2024, wage disparities in India’s education sector deter talented professionals from academia, leaving private institutions with demotivated or underqualified staff. Heavy administrative workloads and poor working conditions further inhibit creativity and professional growth.
Teaching methods across many private and public institutions rely heavily on rote learning, stifling critical thinking and innovation among students. Research funding is scarce in private institutions, and faculty are often burdened with non-academic duties, leaving little room for scholarly pursuits. These shortcomings compromise the academic rigor of private institutions and fail to prepare students for global challenges.Infrastructure deficiencies are also rampant. Many private institutions lack basic facilities like well-equipped libraries, laboratories, and digital tools, which are essential for fostering research and skill development. This limits both students and faculty, widening the quality gap between private and public institutions.
Disparities between public institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS and their private counterparts further exacerbate the problem. While public institutions attract global talent, substantial funding, and high academic standards, private universities often prioritize profit over quality, undermining academic rigor.Regulatory bodies like the UGC and AICTE have failed to address these systemic issues. Ineffective oversight has allowed private institutions to bypass regulations on faculty qualifications, pay scales, and infrastructure. Inspections are often superficial, and policies disproportionately favour public institutions in research funding and innovation.Reforms in regulation, infrastructure, and teaching practices are crucial to bridge the gap between public and private institutions, fostering a higher education system capable of driving India’s national and global aspirations but the same is surprisingly almost missing.
A comparison between India and China’s higher education systems reveals significant gaps in priorities, investments, and outcomes. While China has emerged as a leader in research and innovation, India struggles with systemic inefficiencies that limit its global competitiveness. Examining China’s success in government investment, research infrastructure, faculty welfare, technology integration, and international collaboration offers valuable insights for reforming India’s higher education system.China allocates over 4% of its GDP to education, significantly funding higher education and research. This focus has enabled world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge innovation, and global recognition for institutions like Tsinghua and Peking universities. In contrast, India spends only about 3% of its GDP on education, with even less directed toward higher education. This underinvestment restricts infrastructure development, hinders research, and prevents Indian universities from competing internationally. Increasing India’s education budget is crucial to foster sustainable growth.Chinese dominance in research is evident in its prolific scientific output and patent generation, supported by generous funding and strategic collaboration. Conversely, India’s research ecosystem remains underfunded, producing significantly fewer publications. Establishing well-funded research hubs and prioritizing fields like artificial intelligence and renewable energy are essential to bridge this gap.
Faculty welfare is another critical area where China excels, offering competitive salaries, research grants, and career development opportunities. In India, educators-particularly in private institutions-face low pay, poor working conditions, and limited job security. Reforms in pay scales, incentives, and professional growth opportunities are vital to attract and retain top talent.China has also embraced advanced technology in education, integrating AI, big data, and digital tools to enhance learning and streamline administration. Indian universities, reliant on traditional methods, must adopt such innovations to modernize education delivery and better prepare students for future challenges. In the scenarios of international collaboration, China’s ismuch ahead of India whichbrings it educational success, with partnerships that enhance research and global visibility. India’s limited international collaborations, largely restricted to elite institutions, must expand to include a broader range of universities, enabling wider access to global resources and diverse perspectives. Moreover, China’s centralized governance model ensures effective policy implementation and long-term planning. India’s decentralized approach often results in inefficiencies. Streamlining governance with transparent, accountable regulatory frameworks is necessary to foster quality and innovation.
India is at a critical juncture in her history, facing mounting pressures from hostile neighbours that demand a strategic reorientation of national priorities. In this context, the importance of investing in quality education, robust research frameworks, and a culture of innovation cannot be overstated. These elements are not just tools for development but fundamental pillars of national security. However, the current state of higher education in the country, particularly in private institutions, reflects deep systemic shortcomings that threaten to undermine India’s potential for growth and resilience.One of the most pressing challenges lies in the disparity in faculty salaries and job security between public and private institutions. Talented educators, often deterred by inadequate pay and unstable working conditions, are leaving the academic field, weakening the very foundation of the nation’s intellectual capital. To address this, it is imperative for the government to ensure pay parity and ensure equitable working conditions across all institutions. Establishing standardized salaries and job security measures would help attract and retain skilled educators, fostering an environment conducive to academic excellence.
India’s research ecosystem also demands significant enhancement. Despite its critical role in driving innovation and addressing global challenges, research in India remains grossly underfunded, with a substantial gap in resources between public and private institutions. Allocating a larger share of GDP to higher education and research, coupled with equitable distribution of these funds, is essential. Empowering private universities with resources and opportunities to excel in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and biotechnology would strengthen the nation’s standing as a global innovator.Equally important is the modernization of India’s regulatory frameworks governing higher education. The existing regulations often focus on superficial compliance rather than fostering quality, equity, and innovation. Reforming these frameworks to prioritize outcomes over processes would ensure that institutions are held accountable for their contributions to education and research. Transparent and effective regulatory oversight is key to ensuring that both public and private institutions maintain high standards of quality and integrity.International collaboration represents another crucial area for reform. By fostering partnerships with global universities and research organizations, India can elevate the quality and visibility of her academic institutions. Faculty and student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and efforts to secure international accreditation would expose Indian institutions to global best practices, while also building their reputation on the world stage. Such collaborations would create a robust platform for knowledge exchange, benefiting both educators and students.
Central to all these efforts is the empowerment of educators and researchers. Faculty members must be provided with access to continuous training programs, advanced resources, and opportunities for professional growth. This would enable them to keep pace with global advancements and ensure that Indian institutions are not only competitive but also capable of preparing students to navigate a rapidly evolving world.India must adopt a multi-pronged strategy to revamp its higher education system. Increasing education spending to 6% of GDP, improving faculty welfare, embracing technology, expanding global partnerships, and implementing efficient governance are crucial steps. Learning from China’s successes can help India transform its academic ecosystem, driving innovation, economic growth, and global leadership in knowledge and education.
India’s higher education system, by and large,encompassing 398 state universities, 332 private universities, 49 central universities, 125 deemed universities, besides IITs, IIMs, IISERs, AIIMS, ICAI, ICMAI, ICSI, NITs, IISc. etc is the world’s third-largest, trailing only China and the United States. Despite this eye-catching scale, systemic inefficiencies hinder her ability to achieve global excellence.Privately-owned universities, which form a growing segment of this sector, often prioritize profits over quality, leading to issues like faculty exploitation. This discourages talented individuals from pursuing academic careers, adversely affecting education and research quality. Regulatory bodies like the UGC must enforce standardized pay scales and equitable working conditions to ensure parity across institutions and foster a motivated workforce.
India’s research ecosystem also lags due to insufficient funding and inadequate infrastructure. To compete internationally, it is crucial to invest in advanced research, innovation hubs, and modern pedagogy. Enhancing collaboration between academia, industry, and global institutions can provide the resources and exposure necessary for progress.Effective governance and regulatory reforms are essential to streamline processes, ensure accountability, and promote quality over compliance. By addressing faculty welfare, research funding, and innovation deficits, India can transform its higher education system into a dynamic driver of national development.A thriving academic ecosystem will not only fortify India’s sovereignty but also position herself as a global leader in innovation, economic growth, and intellectual excellence, capable of meeting geopolitical challenges with confidence.
(The author is an Educationist, a Management Scientist and an Independent Researcher)
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