From Expansion to Excellence: Evaluating the Impact of Recent Higher Education Reforms in India on Accessibility, Quality and Innovation

Abstract

The transformative reforms in India's higher education sector since 2015, spearheaded by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)/PM-USHA, and the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), have yielded substantial but uneven results. Analysis of data from 2015–2024 shows significant expansion and access improvements. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) rose from 24.5% to 28.4%, driven by institutional growth and scholarships, with female participation now surpassing males. Quality assurance has progressed, with 35% of institutions achieving accreditation. Furthermore, digital initiatives like SWAYAM have been highly successful, recording over 34 million enrolments, dramatically improving access to educational content. Crucially, research output has elevated India to the global third rank in publications, and innovation ecosystems are flourishing in urban elite centres through multidisciplinary curricula and incubators.

However, the path to achieving the NEP's ambitious goal of 50% GER by 2035 is hindered by deep-seated structural challenges. Regional disparities are stark, with southern states enjoying a 40% GER compared to just 25% in northern states. This inequity is exacerbated by a severe digital divide, evidenced by only 45% rural internet penetration, limiting the reach of digital learning. Persistent issues include widespread faculty shortages, chronic funding delays, and significant infrastructure gaps in rural institutions, leading to uneven quality assurance and research performance. To foster an inclusive, excellence-driven system aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, targeted interventions are necessary. These include increasing the national expenditure on education to 2% of GDP, implementing digital subsidies to target 70% rural penetration by 2030, expanding accreditation to cover 50% of institutions, and ensuring governance transparency alongside competitive research grants. These equity-focused strategies are vital to sustain growth and bridge existing gaps.