Expanding the number of higher educational institutions without addressing affordability and access is an incomplete solution to India's enrolment challenge." Examine this statemen

GS2 Education
Expanding the number of higher educational institutions without addressing affordability and access is an incomplete solution to India's enrolment challenge." Examine this statement and discuss the role of a reimagined scholarship ecosystem in achieving the NEP 2020 target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio.

Examine

  • 15 marks
  • 8 min
  • 250 words
  • Medium

The Hindu

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INTRODUCTION

  • While India has expanded higher education capacity, GER targets under NEP 2020 (50%) cannot be achieved without addressing affordability, access, and retention, especially for disadvantaged groups.

LIMITATIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURE-LED EXPANSION

  • Affordability gap: Rising tuition and living costs deter enrolment despite seat availability.
  • Unequal access: Regional, gender, and caste disparities persist in participation.
  • High dropout rates: Financial stress forces students to discontinue education.
  • Underutilisation of seats: Capacity remains unfilled due to economic and social barriers.
  • Quality concerns: Rapid expansion without support systems affects outcomes.

ROLE OF A REIMAGINED SCHOLARSHIP ECOSYSTEM

  • Universal and targeted coverage: Combine merit-based and need-based scholarships to ensure inclusivity.
  • Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT): Timely and transparent disbursal reduces leakages and delays.
  • Lifecycle support: Extend beyond tuition to cover hostel, food, books, and digital access.
  • Portability and flexibility: Scholarships usable across institutions and modes (online, vocational).
  • Incentivising completion: Link support to retention and graduation outcomes.
  • Integration with loans: Blend scholarships with income-contingent loans to widen coverage.
  • Private sector participation: CSR and philanthropic funding to supplement public resources.
  • Single-window platform: Unified portal for application, tracking, and grievance redressal.
  • Focus on underrepresented groups: Special schemes for women, SC/ST, minorities, and rural students.

BROADER COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES

  • Strengthening school education: Improve preparedness and transition to higher education.
  • Digital inclusion: Bridge access gaps in online and blended learning.
  • Academic support systems: Mentoring, bridge courses, and counselling to reduce attrition.

CONCLUSION

  • Achieving 50% GER requires shifting from mere expansion to equitable participation, where a robust, inclusive scholarship ecosystem becomes a critical enabler of access, retention, and success in higher education.