Why is it in the News?

The hyperpoliticisation of Indian higher education is a grave threat to academic institutions, the academic profession, and intellectual life in general.

Context:

• The higher education system in India is one of the largest globally, showcasing its rich historical legacy and future ambitions.
• The country is home to an impressive range of institutions, including the globally renowned Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), as well as a vast network of universities and colleges.
• Notably, the QS World University Rankings for Asia 2024 highlight India as having the most represented higher education system.
• However, this expansive framework faces numerous challenges and opportunities that shape the current higher education landscape in India.
• While access has significantly expanded, concerns about quality, relevance, and the ability to prepare youth for the 21st century remain.
• Additionally, recent reports have pointed to a troubling trend of increasing politicization within Indian higher education institutions, which threatens academic freedom, intellectual discourse, and overall educational quality.

Current Status of Higher Education in India:

As per the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22, released in January 2024:

• Student Enrolment: Higher education institutes have seen a significant rise in student enrolment, reaching 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21 and 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
  • Notably, women's enrolment has surged by 32% to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 1.5 crore in 2014-15, with the highest proportion enrolled at the postgraduate level (55.4%).
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and Gender Parity Index (GPI): India's estimated GER for the age group 18-23 years stands at 28.4%.
  • The GPI, reflecting the female GER to male GER ratio, is 1.01 at the national level, indicating gender parity.
• Discipline-wise Enrolment: At the undergraduate level, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme leads with 34.2% enrolment, followed by science (14.8%), commerce (13.3%), and engineering and technology (11.8%).
  • Social science dominates postgraduate enrolment, with around 10.8 lakh students.
• Primacy of Government Institutions: Government universities attract 73.7% of all students, despite comprising only 58.6% of all universities.
  • State public universities hold the largest share of enrolment, accounting for approximately 31% of government-owned universities.

Current Challenges in India's Higher Education System:

• Politicization and Lack of Autonomy: Concerns arise regarding the growing politicization of higher education institutions, including allegations of political interference in appointments and curriculum decisions.
  • Many institutions lack autonomy in crucial areas like faculty recruitment and curriculum design, hindering innovation and adaptability.
• Inequitable Access and Low GER: Access to higher education remains unequal, with disparities based on socio-economic status, gender, and geography.
  • Although India's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has improved (currently 28.4%), it still falls below the global average of 36.7%.
• Limited Funding: Budget cuts in the education sector, including a 7% reduction in the Interim Budget 2024-25 and a 61% decrease in the allocation for the University Grants Commission, pose significant challenges.
  • Despite rising Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), India's R&D investment as a percentage of GDP lags behind other countries.
• Shortage of Faculty and Brain Drain: There is a severe shortage of qualified faculty members in Indian higher education institutions, with over 30% of teaching positions vacant in 45 Central Universities as of 2023.
  • The brain drain of talented academics to other countries or the private sector exacerbates this issue.
• Inadequate Industry-Academia Collaboration: Insufficient collaboration between higher education institutions and industries leads to a skill gap among graduates, with a significant demand-supply gap in key roles such as ML engineer and data scientist.
• Uneven Regional Development: Higher education institutions' development varies across regions and states, with states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra hosting more reputed institutions compared to northeastern and central regions, which face challenges in terms of quality and access.

How Can the Higher Education System in India Be Revamped?

• Redefine Universities' Role: Shift focus from rote learning to practical skill development through project-based learning, internships, and industry collaborations.
  • Encourage universities to engage with local communities on social development projects, promoting social responsibility among students.
  • Transform institutes from "Degree Issuers" to "Skill Generators."
• Open Educational Resources (OER): Enhance the National Digital Library of India and promote the development and adoption of open educational resources, like MIT OpenCourseWare, providing free access to quality educational materials.
  • This approach could reduce costs, enhance access, and foster a culture of knowledge sharing.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centers: Establish dedicated centres within universities, inspired by Stanford University's StartX program, offering mentorship, funding opportunities, and a supportive ecosystem for students and faculty to transform innovative ideas into successful ventures.
• Dual Study Programs: Implement phase-wise dual study programs, inspired by Germany's apprenticeship model, where students combine theoretical learning at universities with practical training in companies.
  • This approach ensures industry-relevant skill development and enhances employability.
• Competency-based Credentialing and Blockchain Certificates: Implement a competency-based credentialing system that recognizes skills and competencies acquired through various learning pathways.
  • Leverage blockchain technology to issue tamper-proof, verifiable digital certificates and credentials, promoting lifelong learning, skill-based education, and recognition of diverse learning experiences.
• Transnational Education Partnerships: Promote collaborations with reputed international universities for joint degrees, twinning programs, or branch campuses.
  • This approach could enhance global exposure, facilitate knowledge transfer, and improve the international competitiveness of Indian higher education.

Key Government Initiatives in Higher Education:

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Aims to transform the education system, focusing on multidisciplinary learning, skill development, and promoting research and innovation.
  • It proposes increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035.
• Institutions of Eminence (IoE) Scheme: Launched in 2018, this scheme selects 20 institutions to enjoy complete autonomy, aiming to improve their global rankings and enhance higher education quality.
• National Credit Framework: Designed to integrate training and skill development into the education system.
  • Credits earned by students will be stored digitally in the Academic Bank of Credits, accessible via a linked Digilocker account.
• Revamped Accreditation and Ranking Systems: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks higher education institutions across categories, while the revamped National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ensures quality standards among institutions.
• Digital Initiatives: SWAYAM, an online learning platform, offers courses from school to postgraduate levels.
  • The National Digital Library of India provides access to educational resources.
• SHE under INSPIRE: The Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) program, part of the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), supports deserving students in basic and natural sciences at undergraduate, postgraduate levels and encourages research careers through scholarships.
• Study in India Program: Launched in 2018, this program attracts international students by offering scholarships and streamlining admission processes.
• Foreign Institutions in India: The University Grants Commission's 2023 regulations allow foreign universities ranked among the world's top 500 to establish branch campuses in India.

Conclusion

India's higher education sector is undergoing significant reforms and initiatives aimed at enhancing quality, accessibility, and global competitiveness. Through policies like the National Education Policy 2020 and programs such as Institutions of Eminence, the government is prioritizing multidisciplinary learning, skill development, and research promotion. Digital initiatives like SWAYAM and the Study in India Program further contribute to modernizing and internationalizing higher education, while efforts to attract foreign institutions and scholarships underscore India's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in education.

Why is it in the News?

A scheme fully owned by the state has become a toolkit for privatisation of public health services and continues caste discrimination.

Context:

• India was ranked right at the bottom of 180 countries in the Environment Performance Index (EPI) in 2022.
  • This index evaluates countries based on their performance in addressing climate change, maintaining environmental health, and preserving ecosystem vitality.
  • It assesses 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, encompassing areas like air quality, access to drinking water, and sanitation.
• In response to this ranking, the government expressed reservations, citing flaws in the methodology that, according to them, fail to accurately capture the Indian scenario.
• Over the past decade, the Modi government has launched several development campaigns, including the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the National Clean Air Programme.
• These endeavors are geared towards enhancing living standards and addressing various socio-economic challenges.
• However, despite these efforts, there remains a noticeable rise in the population's vulnerability due to environmental issues like air and water pollution.

About Swachh Bharat Mission:

• Swachh Bharat Mission, the world’s largest sanitation initiative was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2014 to achieve an Open Defecation Free India by October 2, 2019, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
• The programme led to the construction of over 10 crore individual household toilets, taking sanitation coverage from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019 when around 6 lakh villages declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF).
  • The second phase of the mission aims to sustain the open defecation-free status and improve the management of solid and liquid waste, while also working to improve the lives of sanitation workers.
• The mission aimed at progressing toward target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 established by the United Nations in 2015.
  • By achieving the lowest open defecation-free status in 2019, India achieved its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 health target in record time, eleven years ahead of the UN SDG target of 31 December 2030.
• The mission was split into two: rural and urban.
• In rural areas "SBM - Gramin" was financed and monitored through the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (since converted to the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti) whereas "SBM - urban" was overseen by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • The rural division has a five-tier mechanism: central, state, district, block panchayat, and gram panchayat.
• As part of the campaign, volunteers, known as Swachhagrahis, or "Ambassadors of cleanliness", promoted the construction of toilets using a popular method called Community-Led Total Sanitation at the village level.

Critique of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):

Discrepancy between Goals and Outcomes:

• The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and its successor, SBM 2.0, set out ambitious objectives to achieve garbage-free cities, garnering political support across party lines.
  • However, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.
• Despite government assertions of India achieving open defecation-free status, reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2020 raised doubts about the program's effectiveness, highlighting issues such as substandard toilet construction and inadequate waste treatment.
  • In urban areas, certain communities, particularly those residing in slums, continue to lack access to essential sanitation facilities, exacerbating existing inequalities.
  • In rural and peri-urban regions, the lack of integration between toilet construction and waste management has led to environmental contamination and health hazards.

Perpetuation of Power Dynamics and Inequalities:

• Sanitation and waste management in India are deeply entrenched in caste dynamics, historically burdening marginalized communities with sanitation tasks.
  • Despite attempts by SBM to promote the idea of shared responsibility, the underlying power dynamics persist.
• The introduction of capital-intensive technologies aimed at mechanizing waste management processes has not yielded the desired outcomes, resulting in health crises due to improper waste disposal practices.
• The outsourcing of sanitation work to private contractors, often employing members of marginalized communities, has further entrenched caste-based discrimination.
• Government emphasis on procuring expensive machinery for waste management, funded through public resources, has inadvertently facilitated the privatization of public health services, exacerbating existing inequalities.

Technological Solutions and Implementation Challenges:

• While the government has invested in technological solutions such as waste-to-energy plants and biological methanation, their effectiveness remains limited, with few success stories to showcase.
• Challenges persist in the implementation of these solutions, leading to a lack of tangible improvements in solid waste management across many towns and cities.

Gap in Sanitation Inspection Infrastructure:

• A significant gap in the sanitation inspection infrastructure exists within Himachal Pradesh, as revealed during a recent case in the State's High Court.
• On March 30, 2024, it was disclosed that the Shimla Municipal Corporation, consisting of 34 wards, has only five sanitation inspectors.
• Moreover, the decision to declare this cadre dead after retirement raises concerns about the State's commitment to addressing sanitation issues effectively.
• With more than 50 municipal bodies in Himachal Pradesh and only 20 sanitation inspectors available, it is clear that several municipalities lack essential sanitation inspection personnel.

The interconnectedness of Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and Development Campaigns:

• The EPI offers a comprehensive assessment of a country's environmental health and sustainability efforts.
• One critical aspect of the EPI is mapping, which exposes the shortcomings and unsustainability of current development processes.
• In light of a recent Supreme Court judgment acknowledging the links between climate change and basic human rights, it is evident that development models must be reevaluated and adjusted.
• The interconnectedness of the EPI and various development campaigns cannot be ignored, as the consequences of climate change directly impact human well-being and rights.
• With climate scientists attributing current environmental problems to anthropogenic and systemic factors, it is essential to consider the broader implications of the EPI when planning and implementing development initiatives.

Conclusion

To tackle India's environmental challenges, a comprehensive strategy prioritizing sustainability, equity, and social justice is essential. This involves reassessing development strategies, strengthening enforcement, and encouraging community participation in environmental governance. Addressing implementation issues and linking policies to human rights can improve India's EPI performance and foster a sustainable future.

Why is it in the News?

April 1, 2004, marked a significant moment in India's fight against HIV/AIDS as Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) was introduced for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).

Context:

• April 1, 2004, stands as a landmark moment in India's approach to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) was introduced for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).
• This initiative, conceived in response to the pressing issues of access and affordability, has emerged as a crucial intervention in the fight against the disease.
• As we commemorate this day, it is imperative to delve into the progression and significance of India's free ART program, shedding light on its transformative impact on the nation's response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

HIV/AIDS's Emergence and Initial Challenges:

• Inception of a Global Health Crisis: The emergence of HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s signaled the onset of a widespread health emergency with profound implications for populations worldwide.
  • Originally detected among groups in the United States, the disease swiftly traversed borders, reaching nations like India and beyond.
  • This era was characterized by uncertainty, anxiety, and a lack of comprehension regarding the novel virus, initially dubbed GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency), later renamed HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and its associated illness AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
• Absence of Effective Treatments Resulting in Dire Consequences: During the initial stages of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS was synonymous with a dire prognosis, largely due to the absence of viable treatment options.
  • Marginalized communities, including men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, and commercial sex workers, bore the brunt of the disease's impact.
  • However, as time progressed, it became evident that HIV/AIDS transcended boundaries of gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Pervasive Social Stigma: In addition to its grave health implications, HIV/AIDS precipitated significant social stigma and discrimination.
  • Individuals living with HIV/AIDS encountered marginalization, employment loss, and social exclusion from both their communities and families.
  • This pervasive stigma compounded the challenges associated with managing HIV/AIDS and impeded effective epidemic control efforts.
• Limited Treatment Accessibility and Exorbitant Costs of Available ART: Despite the escalating recognition of HIV/AIDS as a global health threat, access to treatment remained scant, particularly in low- and middle-income nations such as India.
  • The approval of the first antiretroviral drug, AZT (zidovudine), by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in March 1987 marked a significant milestone.
  • HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) represented a breakthrough in disease management, combining multiple antiretroviral drugs to suppress viral replication and bolster immune response.
• However, the exorbitant expenses associated with HAART, reaching up to $10,000 annually per patient, rendered it inaccessible to the majority of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, especially those residing in resource-constrained settings.

The Introduction of Free ART in India and its Impact:

• In response to the pressing issues of limited access and affordability of HIV/AIDS treatment, the Indian government embarked on a significant initiative.
• On April 1, 2004, the government initiated the provision of Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).
• The introduction of Free ART aimed to dismantle barriers to treatment and extend life-saving medication to all PLHIV, irrespective of their financial means.
• By offering ART at no cost, the government endeavored to ensure that access to treatment would not be hindered by financial constraints, thereby addressing a crucial gap in healthcare accessibility.

Its Role in Curbing the Epidemic

• Enhanced Treatment Accessibility: Over the past two decades, the initiative has undergone substantial expansion, witnessing a surge in the number of ART centers from less than 10 to approximately 700, catering to around 1.8 million PLHIV.
  • This proliferation has facilitated heightened treatment access for individuals living with HIV/AIDS nationwide, including those residing in remote and underserved regions.
  • A notable outcome of the Free ART endeavor has been the remarkable enhancement in health outcomes observed among PLHIV.
• Significant Reduction in Mortality Risk and Transmission Rates: Timely and effective treatment accessibility has transfigured HIV/AIDS from a dire prognosis to a manageable chronic ailment for many.
  • By suppressing viral load and bolstering immune response, ART has not only extended the lifespan of PLHIV but also augmented their quality of life.
  • Moreover, the Free ART initiative has played a pivotal role in curbing HIV transmission rates by ensuring treatment access for PLHIV, thereby thwarting virus dissemination within communities.
  • Research indicates that efficacious ART can substantially mitigate HIV transmission risk, contributing to the overall decline in HIV prevalence.
• Broader Societal Benefits: Beyond its direct impact on individuals grappling with HIV/AIDS, the Free ART initiative has yielded wider societal advantages.
  • By mitigating the disease burden and forestalling fresh infections, the initiative has alleviated the societal and economic repercussions of HIV/AIDS on families, communities, and healthcare systems.
• Supplementary Measures and Patient-Centric Approach: The success of India's ART program extends beyond free medication provision.
  • Complementary initiatives, such as complimentary diagnostic services, prevention of parent-to-child transmission programs, and management of opportunistic infections, have played pivotal roles in curbing the HIV epidemic.
• Furthermore, the program has adopted a patient-centric strategy, furnishing stable PLHIV with two to three months' worth of medicines to minimize clinic visits and enhance treatment adherence.

Challenges and Future Prospects:

• Delayed Initiation and Attrition in Care: A notable portion of patients presents with advanced HIV illness, evidenced by low CD4 counts, impacting treatment efficacy.
  • Furthermore, attrition in care remains a concern, as some patients discontinue treatment upon feeling well, leading to interruptions and potential drug resistance development.
• Logistical Hurdles and Infrastructure Deficiencies: Remote and underserved regions, including those with rugged terrain, encounter hurdles in accessing vital medications and healthcare provisions.
  • Fortifying the logistical network and infrastructure for dispensing ART drugs is imperative to sustain uninterrupted treatment access for all PLHIV.
• Involvement of the Private Sector: While the public sector assumes a pivotal role in HIV/AIDS treatment provision, fostering collaboration with the private sector is crucial.
  • Leveraging the resources and infrastructure of private healthcare entities can expand ART accessibility and reach marginalized populations, including urban dwellers.
• Interconnected Health Program Integration: Augmenting integration with other health initiatives, encompassing hepatitis, non-communicable ailments, and mental health, holds paramount importance.
  • Given PLHIV's propensity for concurrent ailments, comprehensive and integrated healthcare services necessitate intersectoral collaboration within the healthcare spectrum.
• Realization of Ambitious NACP Phase 5 Objectives: The ongoing fifth phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) sets forth ambitious targets, envisaging an 80% reduction in annual new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortalities by 2025.
  • Achieving these milestones demands concerted endeavors to escalate testing, enhance treatment coverage, and secure viral suppression among PLHIV.

Conclusion

India's free ART initiative has successfully combated HIV/AIDS, demonstrating the power of accessible healthcare. Its achievements emphasize the importance of political will, funding, community engagement, and patient-centered care in tackling infectious diseases. Lessons from this program will guide future public health endeavors, improving outcomes for all