Reimagining Higher Education in India

Despite being a hotbed of national debate, the quality of education and research in Indian universities has seen a troubling decline. Yet, paradoxically, these very institutions—our universities, medical colleges, IITs and IIMs—have played a pivotal role in fuelling the country’s economic growth. The foresight of post-Independence policymakers in valuing knowledge over material wealth laid a strong foundation, but are these decades-old models still relevant today?

In a globalized world, the challenge of running a modern university lies in balancing innovation with tradition. This thought-provoking collection of essays explores urgent questions:

Should universities be managed by professionals rather than academics?

Can economic bursaries replace caste-based reservations to prioritize merit?

How do we ensure institutional autonomy while maintaining accountability?

Should foreign universities collaborate with Indian institutions?

And critically, how do we revive academic environments and stop the brain drain?

Bringing together India’s leading educationists and thinkers, this volume sparks a much-needed public discourse on reshaping our higher education system for the future.