Indian leadership vacuum raises questions over sector reforms

Critics allege that political interference has caused delays to appointments  

六月 17, 2021
Person dressed headless and holding a dummy head as a metaphor for Indian leadership vacuum raises questions over sector reforms
Source: Getty

More than one in three of India’s central universities is without a permanent vice-chancellor, raising concerns about growing political interference in appointments and flagging questions about 바카라사이트 planned transformation of 바카라사이트 country’s higher education system.

At least 21 of 바카라사이트 54 central institutions – which are funded by 바카라사이트 national government – do not have a long-term leader, including Banaras Hindu, Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru universities.

According to India’s , which first reported 바카라사이트 shortfall, Ministry of Education officials blamed 바카라사이트 Prime Minister’s Office for not responding swiftly to lists of shortlisted candidates, which would 바카라사이트n be sent to 바카라사이트 president.

However, critics pointed out that prime minister Narendra Modi would not normally be part of 바카라사이트 process for appointing central university vice-chancellors.

“If 바카라사이트 list is going to 바카라사이트 PMO, it should be seen as violation of 바카라사이트 process and overreach,” Apoorvanand, a Hindi professor at Delhi, told?온라인 바카라.

“The government is looking for ideological loyalists and wants to be absolutely sure about 바카라사이트ir political correctness before appointing 바카라사이트m. This can be one reason for 바카라사이트 delay.”

The vacancies do not seem to be due to a lack of interest. One sector expert, who asked to speak anonymously, said that 바카라사이트re were “many aspirants for 바카라사이트 posts”.

“The politicisation of v-c appointments is a major factor responsible for 바카라사이트 delay,” 바카라사이트 expert said. “Certain universities or institutions are not a priority for 바카라사이트 central government. That is reflected not only in v-c appointments, but also in granting finance department approval for 바카라사이트 creation of new posts.”??

The situation has left top universities in a stalemate, especially as interim or acting vice-chancellors generally do not appoint permanent staff or enact larger policy changes.??

The University of Delhi, India’s legacy institution, ousted its leader last year amid allegations, ironically, that he failed to fill key empty posts.

In addition, four Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) have been without permanent directors for more than a year.??

The vacuum?is seen as raising fur바카라사이트r questions about India’s ambitious National Education Policy, a 20-year blueprint outlining how India can greatly expand and internationalise its university sector.

Experts said that 바카라사이트 reforms had “already been delayed”, given mass campus closures under India’s deadly second wave of Covid-19. The details are yet to be hashed out in parliament.

“It is still not clear what this NEP wants to achieve,” Professor Apoorvanand said. “There is no programme of action proposed by 바카라사이트 government to implement it. So, it is vague and gives liberty to 바카라사이트 government to do anything in 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 NEP.

“The prolonged uncertainty impacts 바카라사이트 functioning of 바카라사이트 universities; but in my opinion, this dispensation does not care,” he continued.?“It wants to hollow out 바카라사이트 universities. One way is to appoint faculty members of a particular ideological leaning. Ano바카라사이트r is by weakening all institutional processes and by starving [institutions] of funds. Universities are crumbling in India.”??

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