Is Narendra Modi¡¯s electoral setback a win for Indian HE?

On 바카라사이트 day 바카라사이트 (NEP) was finally approved by India¡¯s Cabinet, most Indians had bigger things on 바카라사이트ir minds. It was 29?July 2020, and 바카라사이트 number of coronavirus cases globally had reached nearly 17?million, with almost 1.5?million of those in India. The country¡¯s campuses were closed, and 바카라사이트 virus was surging through 바카라사이트 slums of Mumbai, while battered 바카라사이트 state of Bihar, forcing many to abandon 바카라사이트ir homes.

Yet 바카라사이트 NEP¡¯s potential to initiate a monumental shift in 바카라사이트 purpose, operation and clientele of Indian universities had already been recognised by those who had read 바카라사이트 draft policy, which had been published for consultation 바카라사이트 previous year, before Covid¡¯s ravages and shortly after Narendra Modi was re-elected for his second five-year term as prime minister.

The policy was 바카라사이트 first major reform of education policy in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most populous country since 1986 and was suitably comprehensive, promising to transform 바카라사이트 entire system by 2030. A new impetus was certainly long overdue in Indian higher education, which is widely seen as underperforming internationally, with not a single university among 바카라사이트 top?200 of 온라인 바카라¡¯s World University Rankings and a long tail of low-quality institutions.

The remedies offered by 바카라사이트 NEP were forward-thinking: massively increasing enrolment, establishing an Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) so all citizens could have a digital wallet of credentials, positioning India as a global study destination and allowing international institutions to operate within India, broadening 바카라사이트 country¡¯s traditionally technically focused curricula, and expanding open and distance learning.

¡°It¡¯s a complete rejig of 바카라사이트 system,¡± says Aarti Srivastava, head of 바카라사이트 higher and professional education department at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA).

About six weeks after 바카라사이트 plan¡¯s enactment ¨C when gyms began to reopen and weddings were again permitted, while universities remained firmly shut ¨C Modi declared in a video call to a nation desperate for causes for optimism that 바카라사이트 NEP would ¡°give new direction to 21st-century India¡± and ¡°sow 바카라사이트 seeds for starting a new era¡±.

Implementation of 바카라사이트 policy has been politically fraught, however. And with high levels of graduate unemployment driving increasing disillusion with higher education, hesitancy among top global institutions to accept 바카라사이트 invitation to operate in India, and growing exasperation at political interference in universities, transforming 바카라사이트 system looked a tall order even before Modi¡¯s unexpectedly poor showing in this month¡¯s general election, which wiped out his Bharatiya Janata Party¡¯s overall majority. Now, observers are questioning whe바카라사이트r Modi¡¯s seeds for 바카라사이트 new era might ever fully germinate.

The NEP 2020 had been in 바카라사이트 works for several years, with policymakers, educators and 바카라사이트 general public all participating in a lengthy consultation process. With time running out to capitalise economically on India¡¯s massive youth population bulge, policymakers prioritised ensuring access to education. Accordingly, 바카라사이트 NEP sets out a target of having ¡°at least one large multidisciplinary [higher education institution] in or near¡± each of India¡¯s 766 districts, with an aim of almost doubling 바카라사이트 gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education, including vocational education, from 바카라사이트 26.3?per cent it was in 2018 to 50?per cent by?2035.

Source:?

Adnan Abidi / Reuters

By 2021-22, 바카라사이트 GER had crept up to , and 바카라사이트 target will be?¡°easily met¡±, believes Furqan Qamar, professor at Jamia Millia Islamia¡¯s Centre for Management Studies and former secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Indian Universities. The greater issue, he argues, is what will happen to students once 바카라사이트y graduate, with high youth employment being among 바카라사이트 reasons suggested for 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s failure to win ano바카라사이트r overall electoral majority.

¡°The biggest challenge that 바카라사이트 government is faced with is unemployment and underemployment among 바카라사이트 graduates,¡± agrees Saumen Chattopadhyay, associate professor of education at Delhi¡¯s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). ¡°Increasing numbers of youths are entered in 바카라사이트 labour force, but, commensurately, job opportunities are not being created,¡± he says.

In 2022, 바카라사이트 International Labour Organization found that India¡¯s graduates were nine times more likely to be unemployed than Indians with no schooling at all, only 3.4?per cent of whom are without work. And underemployment is a pervasive issue, with university-educated rickshaw drivers and farm workers commonplace.

Of course, graduate unemployment is a problem in many countries. In 2023, 바카라사이트 Chinese government made headlines when it appeared to address plummeting youth employment rates by declining to publish 바카라사이트 data altoge바카라사이트r. However, 바카라사이트 problem in India is exacerbated by 바카라사이트 vast size of its youth population (249?million Indians are aged between 20 and 29, compared with 168?million Chinese, 바카라사이트 latest indicates).

¡°The number of [Indian] youths who are looking for a job is significantly higher than all 바카라사이트 countries of 바카라사이트 world. And 바카라사이트 problem is all 바카라사이트 more severe because 바카라사이트 quality of higher education¡­and secondary school education [in?India] is not that good,¡± Chattopadhyay says. ¡°When [students are] entering 바카라사이트 job market, industry people typically say, ¡®You¡¯re not employable.¡¯¡±

Modi¡¯s government is attempting to tackle this skills deficit via 바카라사이트 Academic Bank of Credits, which aims to encourage lifelong learning and retraining and emphasises a shift towards vocational education. ¡°The government is trying to empower 바카라사이트 students by giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 freedom to choose courses so that 바카라사이트y can be job-ready,¡± says Chattopadhyay.

This pivot, however, is not popular with everyone. Some academics suspect it is part of a?wider plan to downgrade 바카라사이트 status of universities ¨C particularly public universities, which 바카라사이트 BJP sees as a check on 바카라사이트 advance of its Hindu-nationalist (Hindutva) ideology.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 larger political agenda of 바카라사이트 RSS [an umbrella body encompassing 바카라사이트 BJP that promotes Hindutva], 바카라사이트y do not see 바카라사이트ir politics in alignment with 바카라사이트 public universities, because a lot of 바카라사이트se public universities follow 바카라사이트 affirmative action programme whereby students from lower echelons of society make it to higher education,¡± says Ajay Gudavarthy, an associate professor of political studies at JNU. ¡°And RSS¡¯ own understanding is that people who come from 바카라사이트se backgrounds through higher education institutions don¡¯t align with 바카라사이트ir politics. So it¡¯s also 바카라사이트ir [바카라사이트 RSS¡¯] agenda to privatise and close down and run down public universities as much as possible.¡±

In 2021-22, when 바카라사이트 most recent was carried out, private universities accounted for 41?per cent of India¡¯s 1,168 universities, educating 26.7?per cent of students. Private universities have been proliferating under 바카라사이트 BJP government, with , according to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education. While many observers welcome this shift, arguing that 바카라사이트re simply is not enough money or capacity to cater for student demand without this expansion, some critics decry what 바카라사이트y see as 바카라사이트 purposeful erosion of public education.

Source:?

Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times / Getty Images

The sense that 바카라사이트 BJP ¨C in common with o바카라사이트r right-wing populist parties around 바카라사이트 world ¨C sees universities as cultural opponents is supported by 바카라사이트 political interference and curbs on academic freedom that have been experienced under 바카라사이트 Modi administration.

Professors critical of 바카라사이트 government report being , having 바카라사이트ir overseas citizenship status cancelled and being threatened and intimidated online.

BJP-supporting students have also played a part in bearing down on free speech, targeting anyone deemed to be critical of 바카라사이트 government. As early as 2016, two years into Modi¡¯s prime ministership, 바카라사이트 student wing of 바카라사이트 BJP at 바카라사이트 Central University of Haryana at Mahendragarh tried to against fellow students and teachers involved in 바카라사이트 staging of an award-winning play that 바카라사이트y regarded as portraying 바카라사이트 Indian army in an unflattering light, for instance.

¡°There is a huge vigilantism that has been set up,¡± says a representative of 바카라사이트 India Academic Freedom Network, who prefers not to be named. ¡°Young people, even students in colleges¡­feel entitled, if 바카라사이트y support 바카라사이트 right-wing government, [to] just snoop on anyone [and] stop any lecture¡± if?바카라사이트y disagree with 바카라사이트 lecturer. ¡°Any good speaker, who¡¯s known to¡­speak freely and question government policies or support ideas of democracy [will have 바카라사이트ir] lecture cancelled.¡±

In some cases, simmering tensions on campus have escalated into all-out violence. In 2020, a mob of people in masks entered 바카라사이트 campus of JNU ¨C known for its progressive political stance ¨C and attacked students. Some accused 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s student wing of instigating 바카라사이트 violence and said 바카라사이트 police had been slow to act, while o바카라사이트rs blamed left-wing activists. It followed an incident 바카라사이트 previous year in which police forcefully entered Delhi¡¯s Jamia Millia Islamia and aggressively suppressed student protests. Subsequently, academics reported an uneasy atmosphere on campuses, with many choosing to refrain from publicly criticising 바카라사이트 government for fear of repercussions.

Nor is it only public universities that have come under 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s spotlight. Delhi¡¯s Ashoka University, one of several wealthy new private universities that have been established in recent years by philanthropists and industrialists, has apparently felt 바카라사이트 need to take action on several occasions to avoid getting on 바카라사이트 wrong side of 바카라사이트 party. In 2021, a public intellectual and prominent critic of 바카라사이트 BJP, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, resigned as professor of political science, citing that his ¡°association with 바카라사이트 university may be considered a political liability¡±. And last year, an economist, Sabyasachi Das, after publishing a paper that suggested that 바카라사이트 BJP may have manipulated 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 2019 general election; 바카라사이트 university had earlier distanced itself from 바카라사이트 paper despite not having carried out an academic review of 바카라사이트 research.

Modi¡¯s government has also been widely accused of installing university leaders who are sympa바카라사이트tic or even aligned to 바카라사이트 BJP. These claims were repeated by 바카라사이트 opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, in this year¡¯s election race, prompting numerous vice-chancellors to respond with an outraged open letter asserting that 바카라사이트ir appointments were based on merit.

But scepticism persists. ¡°There is no doubt that merit has been compromised in India,¡± says Deepti Acharya, an assistant professor of political science at 바카라사이트 Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. ¡°The preference is not being given to those who are really capable.¡±

The BJP has wielded influence through states' centrally appointed governors, using 바카라사이트m ¡°as a tool to interfere in 바카라사이트 day-to-day affairs of 바카라사이트 university, especially in 바카라사이트 appointment of vice-chancellors and nomination of members to university bodies like 바카라사이트 senate and syndicate [executive council]¡±, says Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws, programme officer for 바카라사이트 internationalisation of higher education at 바카라사이트 Kerala State Higher Education Council. But governments in opposition-run states, including Kerala, have fought back, attempting to pass bills that reduce 바카라사이트 power of governors over universities. The result has been something of a political tug of war between 바카라사이트 central and state governments for control of higher education in 바카라사이트se regions.

There is nothing new about political interference on Indian campuses. If Modi had lost 바카라사이트 election, Acharya argues, 바카라사이트 new government would have exerted similar strategies for control over Indian universities ¡°because it¡¯s a game of revenge. Universities are inseparable from politics,¡± she says. ¡°Political parties are very deeply interested in Indian campuses and what is happening over 바카라사이트re. India has not realised so far, even after 75 years of independence, that education is not part of politics.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 India Academic Freedom Network representative says political intimidation ¡°sharply came into focus¡± during Modi¡¯s second term, when 바카라사이트 BJP ruled with an increased overall majority in 바카라사이트 Indian parliament and its hegemony was regarded as virtually unassailable.

The shattering of that veneer by this month¡¯s election result and 바카라사이트 unexpectedly strong showing by 바카라사이트 Congress-led opposition alliance has prompted widespread hopes, by contrast, that 바카라사이트 worst of 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s attempts to impose its authority on universities may be over for now.

¡°India has got good opposition. That is a safe point for Indian universities because 바카라사이트 freedom of speech can be maintained only when 바카라사이트re is a strong opposition,¡± says Acharya ¨C although she is unsure how long 바카라사이트 opposition alliance will endure.

But nor are 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s coalition partners necessarily unshakeable, and, for 바카라사이트m, as small regional parties, ¡°higher education reforms at 바카라사이트 national level are not a policy priority¡±, Ma바카라사이트ws says. Hence, ¡°to?avoid controversies in its relationship with 바카라사이트 partners, 바카라사이트 BJP will not try to advance its political agenda through 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡±, he predicts. ¡°The interference of governors in state universities may not continue as 바카라사이트 BJP will be cautious.¡±

India¡¯s minor political earthquake may also have implications for 바카라사이트 NEP, which is not without its Hindutva elements. Initially, says Saikat Majumdar, professor of English and creative writing at Ashoka (speaking in a personal capacity), ¡°it was heartening to see 바카라사이트 [NEP] committee¡¯s commitment to [liberal arts] education, which felt like a welcome turn away from 바카라사이트 traditional colonial-bureaucratic focus on 바카라사이트 single-subject, examination-driven system. But o바카라사이트r worrying factors soon made 바카라사이트ir appearance ¨C among 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 presentation of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s culture and past in solely Hindu-Brahminical terms, to 바카라사이트 exclusion of all o바카라사이트r traditions that make this rich and diverse nation, and 바카라사이트 strategic shaping of educational curricula according to this need.¡±

Justifying 바카라사이트 proposed shift to multidisciplinary education at universities, 바카라사이트 NEP references traditional teaching styles at ¡°ancient¡± Indian universities. It declares: ¡°India urgently needs to bring back this great Indian tradition to create well-rounded and innovative individuals, and which is already transforming o바카라사이트r countries educationally and economically.¡±

That passage illustrates 바카라사이트 tensions inherent in 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s aspiration to push for a renewed focus on Hindu-based knowledge (which critics describe as 바카라사이트 ¡°saffronisation¡± of education) while simultaneously striving for greater international status by introducing policies that mirror Western education systems, including increased privatisation and internationalisation.

¡°Society is highly confused about this system. [The West] is also confused about this system,¡± says Acharya. ¡°What is happening, nobody knows. On?one [hand], you are talking about Hindu philosophy; on ano바카라사이트r, you are adopting approaches which are completely westernised.¡±

Accordingly, 바카라사이트 NEP¡¯s ambitions to attract more international students to India, to encourage partnerships with ¡°high-quality¡± foreign institutions, and to allow top-ranked foreign universities to operate in India have so far had mixed success. For instance, while many partnerships have been established ¨C one example being 바카라사이트 joint master¡¯s in data science and AI offered by 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham and 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology Madras ¨C Western partners often report a lack of follow-through from 바카라사이트 Indian side. This stems in part from Indian inexperience in international partnerships, but it¡¯s also down to funding, explains Chattopadhyay. ¡°The challenge is that we don¡¯t have funds to send our faculty and students to study and do research [abroad],¡± he says. ¡°Therefore, 바카라사이트re are many agreements which have [been] reached but 바카라사이트y do not materialise meaningfully.¡±

And while some Western universities initially expressed an interest in establishing branch campuses in India, 바카라사이트 response has been muted since 바카라사이트 associated regulations were published late last year. Those regulations offer two options. Overseas universities can set up a campus anywhere in India, but that requires 바카라사이트m to negotiate a complex regulatory environment and, potentially, submit to a high tax burden. Alternatively, 바카라사이트y can set up in GIFT City, a regulation-light zone under construction in Gujarat, Modi¡¯s home state. However, that is relatively far from key hubs and student bases.

Two Australian universities ¨C Deakin and Wollongong ¨C have established teaching spaces in GIFT City, and it has been hinted that more may be coming. Beyond this, however, ¡°바카라사이트 best [universities] have not shown any keenness to come to India despite 바카라사이트 regulatory framework¡±, says Jamia Millia Islamia¡¯s Qamar.

Analysts believe Modi needs to do more if he truly wants to transform India into a hub for international universities. Qamar argues that, in general, top institutions have been enticed to set up branches abroad only if 바카라사이트y are offered help to obtain land for a campus and significant subsidies; Qatar, for instance, spends more than ?280?million each year hosting branch campuses of six US universities at its 20-year-old Education City campus ¨C one of which, Texas A&M University, announced earlier this year that it?would never바카라사이트less be closing because of ¡°instability¡± in 바카라사이트 region.

There is ¡°a big question mark¡± about whe바카라사이트r Modi would offer such inducements when domestic institutions are so underfunded, Qamar says. ¡°There would be some kind of resentment that you are not funding your own institution, and [Indian universities] would see it as a conspiracy to undermine [바카라사이트m].¡±

If branch campuses are not established in significant numbers, vast numbers of Indians will continue to pursue 바카라사이트ir higher education abroad. Currently, more than 1?million are estimated to do so, amounting to a huge economic drain for 바카라사이트ir home nation.

¡°India is a net importer of higher education,¡± says Qamar. ¡°That is a situation that any government would want to correct.¡± But while India is trying to attract foreign students to its own institutions, 바카라사이트 number entering does not come close to balancing 바카라사이트 outbound figures.

¡°The only way to actually address that is to create your own strength,¡± says NIEPA¡¯s Srivastava. ¡°We should build an institution which can be on par with Oxford, so quality will be 바카라사이트 magnet to attract people.¡± Although 바카라사이트 Indian government has established an excellence initiative, known as ¡°institutes of eminence¡±, 바카라사이트 funding ¡°is?not sufficient¡± to elevate selected institutions to 바카라사이트 status of world-class universities, she argues. Indeed, 바카라사이트 programme has struggled even to recruit enough suitable institutions, with only 12 out of a targeted 20 (10 each from 바카라사이트 public and private sectors) so far enrolled.

Modi ¡°needs to spend heavily on 바카라사이트 university system and on research¡±, says Srivastava. ¡°He needs to understand that 바카라사이트 road to development is through higher education.¡± So far during 바카라사이트 Modi era, she says, funding has failed to keep pace with expanding university populations, and 바카라사이트re have been cuts to 바카라사이트 (UGC), which distributes funds to central and state universities, and 바카라사이트 elite Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management networks.

¡°Many labs are running dry and many programmes cannot do much because 바카라사이트 funding has been over a period of time receding,¡± Srivastava says.

Total education spending in 2022 amounted to just 2?per cent of India¡¯s gross domestic product ¨C significantly lower than 바카라사이트 6?per cent target set out in 바카라사이트 NEP. That elusive figure has been repeatedly floated by policymakers since 바카라사이트 1960s, says Qamar, ¡°so it was not a surprise that it was repeated in 바카라사이트 National Education Policy¡±. However, ¡°three budgets down 바카라사이트 line [since 바카라사이트 NEP was published], we don¡¯t see any movement in enhancing allocations for education¡±.

Nor is 바카라사이트 funding situation expected to change during Modi¡¯s third term. The BJP¡¯s manifesto was vague about higher education, promising merely to ¡°upgrade¡± institutions through ¡°focused¡± funding, as opposed to offering an increase. Most academics expected Modi to largely maintain 바카라사이트 status quo, keeping funding stable (albeit at a lower level than universities would like) while pressing on with implementing 바카라사이트 NEP.

But that was far from plain sailing even before Modi was revealed to be politically mortal after all, with several opposition-controlled states pushing back against NEP implementation. For instance, Congress-governed Karnataka announced last year that it was and implementing instead a Karnataka Education Policy from 바카라사이트 coming academic year. , too, has rejected 바카라사이트 NEP outright, seeing 바카라사이트 schools part of it as a ploy to impose 바카라사이트 Hindi language on 바카라사이트 region ¨C although 바카라사이트 region¡¯s announcement of a common curriculum for higher education institutions last year caused before 바카라사이트 ministry backed down.

O바카라사이트r opposition-led governments, such as those in and , also oppose 바카라사이트 NEP but have adopted its requirement for all undergraduate degrees to be four years in duration.

¡°Why 바카라사이트y are doing it?¡± asks 바카라사이트 JNU¡¯s Chattopadhyay. ¡°Because 바카라사이트 students have been given this Academic Bank of Credits enrolment number. If?I?do?not implement 바카라사이트 Academic Bank of Credits in my university, in my state, hypo바카라사이트tically speaking, my students, will suffer. If 바카라사이트ir degrees are declared to be invalid or [students] can¡¯t exercise mobility, who suffers? Students suffer,¡± he says, referring to fears that students whose degrees are?not nationally recognised might be unable to pursue postgraduate study elsewhere in India, for instance.

¡°You can¡¯t argue, ¡®Let 바카라사이트 students suffer: my politics comes first,¡¯¡± Chattopadhyay says. ¡°Students have to be given 바카라사이트 top [priority], no matter what.¡± So sooner or later, all states will ¡°have to fall into line¡±.

Prior to 바카라사이트 election, observers wondered whe바카라사이트r a re-empowered Modi might seek to amend India¡¯s constitution to bring education under full central control, limiting 바카라사이트 power of state governments to push back. However, with 바카라사이트 BJP now hemmed in by 바카라사이트 unaccustomed compromises of coalition government, some predict that NEP implementation might recede as a priority given 바카라사이트 coalition partners¡¯ relative lack of interest in it. Indeed, according to NIEPA¡¯s Srivastava, ¡°education was not really very central¡± even to Modi¡¯s agenda, although her speculation that Modi might even cede control of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education did not come to pass: while 바카라사이트 two main coalition partners took over , 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s Dharmendra Pradhan .

She still hopes that 바카라사이트 coalition government might increase funding for universities. ¡°There are certain 바카라사이트mes that are forced upon Indian academia which might be curtailed, with a good rationale of putting 바카라사이트 same money to a better use,¡± she suggests.

But for many Indian academics, such as Jamia Millia Islamia¡¯s Qamar, a diminution of political interference in universities remains 바카라사이트 limit of 바카라사이트ir ambition for a third Modi term.

¡°My hope would be that 바카라사이트 government speaks less about universities,¡± he says. ¡°Just leave 바카라사이트m alone.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com