Introduction

• The QS World University Rankings 2026 highlight notable progress in India''s higher education sector.
• This upward momentum stems from structural reforms and a growing emphasis on quality education.
• Despite these improvements, significant challenges remain, demanding deeper reforms and enhanced funding.

Rise of Private Higher Education

• Between 2011-12 and 2021-22, private university enrolment increased nearly five times.
• In contrast, public institutions recorded a modest 20–25% rise in enrolments.
• Many private universities have earned places in the QS rankings due to:
• Strong infrastructure
• International partnerships
• Specialized, career-oriented programs
• Concern: The high cost of private education limits accessibility for economically disadvantaged students, raising equity issues.

Enrolment and Gender Inclusion

• The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) improved from 23.7% (2014-15) to 28.4% (2021-22).
• Female students now represent nearly 50% of higher education enrolments.
• Indicates progress toward gender parity, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Continuing Structural Challenges

Despite the positive trends, several systemic issues persist:

• Faculty Shortages: Public institutions often report 30–40% faculty vacancies.
• Infrastructure Deficits: Many Tier-2 and Tier-3 colleges lack modern labs, libraries, and digital facilities.
• Inadequate Funding: Public universities operate under constrained budgets, hindering quality improvements.
• Low Research Output: Limited presence in high-impact journals and weak citation-per-faculty scores in global rankings.
• GER Gap: Achieving the NEP 2020 goal of 50% GER by 2035 appears challenging at the current pace.

Policy Initiatives and Reforms

The government has introduced key reforms to transform higher education:

• NEP 2020 envisions a flexible, multidisciplinary academic ecosystem.
• Launch of the National Research Foundation (NRF) to foster research.
• Establishment of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs).
• Other reforms include:
• Academic Bank of Credits
• Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes
• Internationalisation of education
• Schemes like RUSA and PM-USHA target equity-based funding for state universities.
• Challenge: The success of these initiatives depends on timely fund disbursement, regulatory simplification, and capacity building.

Interdependence with School Education

• Higher education quality is shaped by the foundation laid in school education.
• Many students lack essential skills upon entering college, affecting their academic performance and employability.
• Assessments like PISA and NAS reveal stark differences in basic literacy and numeracy across states.
• Strengthening early learning, teacher training, and school infrastructure is critical for sustained improvements.

Inclusion and Regional Disparities

• While top-tier institutes like IITs and IISc continue to excel, many state colleges and universities lag behind.
• Southern states fare better in terms of educational access and quality compared to central and northern states.
• The digital divide, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a barrier to equitable learning opportunities.

The Road Ahead

To consolidate recent gains and address persistent issues, India must:

• Raise education spending to at least 6% of GDP, as per NEP 2020.
• Activate the NRF to boost impactful, interdisciplinary research.
• Encourage foreign faculty recruitment and academic exchange programs.
• Shift towards outcome-based education aligned with emerging industries like AI, sustainability, and climate science.
• Expand global outreach through the “Study in India” initiative.

Conclusion

• The 2026 QS Rankings reflect India’s improved global standing, especially due to the rising presence of private universities and consistent excellence from premier institutes.
• However, to truly become a global knowledge leader, India must ensure a balanced approach that prioritizes access, equity, and excellence in its higher education policies.