Q. Achieving a GER of 50% in higher education by 2035 is not just an educational goal but a social transformation. Critically examine with reference to state-specific challenges.
Answer:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to raise India’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education (18–23 years) from 28.4% to 50% by 2035, requiring the admission of an additional 33 million students. Achieving this goal is a social transformation as it expands access to youth from diverse socio-economic, geographic, and caste backgrounds, promoting equity, social mobility, and national development.
India’s states, however, face heterogeneous challenges. Tamil Nadu has nearly achieved the GER target; its focus now must shift from access to quality, including faculty development and research clusters. Maharashtra’s challenge lies in connecting “islands of excellence” with regional universities to ensure even academic development. Uttar Pradesh, with a population exceeding 200 million, requires massive capacity-building and financial investment. Bihar faces the steepest climb, needing new colleges, trained faculty, digital infrastructure, and state-funded internships.
The Union government’s role should be that of a catalyst and financial equalizer, providing disproportionate resources to lagging states while enabling autonomy in curriculum, pedagogy, and research. Industry collaboration through co-designed curricula, R&D co-funding, and structured apprenticeships is crucial to bridge the skills gap.
Risks include inequality, quality dilution, and regulatory challenges, which must be addressed through robust governance, graded autonomy, and outcome-driven regulatory frameworks.
In conclusion, achieving 50% GER is not merely expanding enrollment; it is a transformative project shaping India’s youth, workforce, and socio-economic landscape, requiring cooperative federalism, industry engagement, and quality-driven policies.
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