Paper I - Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration
Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration tests the structure and regulation of Indian higher education: constitutional allocation, regulators, accreditation, funding, institutional types and recent policy.
Core rules
- Education was moved to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976; Entry 66 of the Union List gives the Centre power to coordinate and determine standards.
- UGC is the principal regulator for standards in universities; AICTE regulates technical education; NCTE regulates teacher education; NMC regulates medical education; BCI regulates legal education.
- NAAC accredits higher education institutions; NIRF ranks institutions; neither is a grant-giving regulator.
- University types include central, state, deemed, private and institutes of national importance.
- NEP 2020 proposes multidisciplinary institutions, a four-year undergraduate programme, an academic credit bank, multiple entry and exit, and a gross enrolment ratio target of 50% by 2035.
Worked example
A question asks which body evaluates and accredits a college. NAAC is correct; UGC sets regulatory standards and can mandate accreditation, but it does not itself award the grade. NIRF ranks rather than accredits.
Traps that cost marks
Saying education is only a state subject; equating UGC with NAAC; confusing a deemed university with a central university; treating an NIRF rank as accreditation.