Critical Analysis of Development and Management of Higher Education in India

History of Indian education dates back to over 5,000 years. Education in the Vedic and Muslim periods was found to be based on religion while the Buddhist period gave world-class universities. In the British period, education oscillated between being a central subject and a provincial subject. The Constitution of India placed education as a state subject, which was later transferred to the Concurrent List in 1976. But due to lack of coordination between the centre and state governments, the higher education system is found to be in a critical state. Further, there is significant disparity in funds allocation to central and state universities by the central regulator, UGC, which further worsens the situation. The current system can work, if the centre makes the law with a broader view and leaves the states with enough power to customise it. There is need to establish State Education Councils in every state to better assess the need of state universities and recommend/allocate the funds accordingly.