“A Study of Higher Education System in Relation to Skill Development & Job Market in India”
-Mohit Pandey Evolution and Expansion of Indian Higher Education India’s higher education system has undergone significant changes since its inception in the mid-20th century. Starting with just 27 universities and a few hundred colleges, the system has expanded rapidly, especially since the 1980s. This period saw a consistent annual growth rate of about 5% in student enrollment, far outpacing the population growth rate. The number of universities grew to 1,168 by 2022, with over 58,000 affiliated colleges. This massive expansion was driven by a population bulge in lower age cohorts and an increasing demand for higher education as secondary education enrollment and household incomes rose. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education increased to approximately 11% by the early 2000s, reflecting the growing accessibility of higher education to a broader segment of the population. Notably, women made up about 40% of total enrollments, marking progress in gender equity in education...