NITI Aayog’s Report on Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities/नीति आयोग: राज्यों और राज्य सार्वजनिक विश्वविद्यालयों के माध्यम से गुणवत्तापूर्ण उच्च शिक्षा का विस्तार

Why in News? NITI Aayog has launched a first-of-its-kind policy report titled “Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities (SPUs)”. The report focuses on strengthening SPUs, which account for 80% of India’s higher education enrolment, aligning with the goals of NEP 2020 and India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Key Points:

1. Report Launch and Contributors:

• Released by Sh. Suman Bery (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog), Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul (Member, NITI Aayog), Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam (CEO, NITI Aayog), Sh. Vineet Joshi (Secretary, Department of Higher Education), and Dr. Pankaj Mittal (Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities).
• A culmination of extensive consultations with stakeholders, including state government officers, vice-chancellors from 50 SPUs, and representatives from 20 states and UTs.

2. Focus and Importance of the Report:

• SPUs cater to 80% of higher education enrolment, necessitating urgent reforms in quality, governance, and funding.
• Aims to transition SPUs from merely offering access to world-class education to create a high-quality human resource base for India’s developmental goals.
• Aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goal of doubling enrolment to 9 crore students by 2035, with 7 crore students in SPUs.

3. Key Features of the Report:

• Quantitative Analysis: Covers indicators like Quality, Funding and Financing, Governance, and Employability.
• Policy Roadmap: Contains 80 recommendations across short, medium, and long-term strategies.
• Performance Success Indicators: Provides 125 indicators to measure the success of reforms.

4. Major Recommendations:

• Research and Curriculum: Enhance pedagogy, curriculum standards, and research quality.
• Funding and Financing: Augment funding capacity to address resource constraints.
• Governance Structures: Empower governance systems to improve efficiency and accountability.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration: Strengthen ties to boost student employability.

5. Key Budgetary Initiatives Mentioned:

• PMRF (Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship): 10,000 research fellowships announced.
• MERUs (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities): INR 13,000 crore allocation under PM-USHA (Prime Minister Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) for 2023-26.
• Second-Generation IITs: Addition of 6,500 seats.
• Bharatiya Bhasha Textbook Scheme: Promoting regional language education.

6. Challenges Addressed:

• Funding Limitations: Proposes solutions to address funding constraints faced by SPUs.
• Governance Issues: Suggests structural reforms for better institutional governance.
• Capacity Building: Focus on training and capacity building for vice-chancellors, teachers, and staff.

Key Terms and Facts:

• State Public Universities (SPUs): Universities funded and managed by state governments, forming the backbone of India’s higher education system.
• NEP 2020: National Education Policy aiming for a transformative shift in India’s education system.
• Viksit Bharat 2047: India’s vision to become a developed nation by its centenary of independence.
• PM-USHA: Prime Minister Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, focusing on strengthening higher education institutions.
• MERUs: Multidisciplinary institutions offering world-class education and research opportunities.

This report marks a significant step in reforming India’s higher education landscape, ensuring SPUs play a pivotal role in driving the country’s development goals.