Making scholarships integral to India’s academic culture, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India aims to achieve a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 50% in higher education.
• The number of higher education institutions in India has increased from 51,534 (2014-15) to over 70,000 (2025-26).
• The current national GER stands at 29.5% (2022-23), indicating that access and affordability are key challenges.
• Scholarships need to be integrated into the higher education system to support students and enhance academic quality.

Detailed Insights:

• India faces challenges related to access, affordability, and quality in higher education, hindering enrolment despite available seats.
• Scholarships can address these challenges by providing financial support, mentorship, and career guidance to students from diverse backgrounds.
• The National Scholarship Portal serves as a common platform for various scholarship schemes offered by different ministries and departments.
• Historical examples, such as Takshashila, demonstrate the importance of ensuring that ability is not limited by financial constraints.
• Scholarships should be designed as multi-year commitments and aligned with national and regional needs to enhance skills and employability.
• Incentives like tax benefits and matching funds can attract long-term capital into scholarship programs, fostering growth and sustainability.
• Institutions like Ashoka University and ISB have successfully integrated scholarships into their academic culture, promoting diversity and merit.
• Effective scholarship systems treat scholarships as a core component of their academic cultures, as seen in the U.S. and China.
• Integrating scholarships into the higher education strategy can promote equity, quality, and growth, shaping the social and intellectual life of campuses.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): The percentage of students enrolled in higher education relative to the eligible population.
• National Scholarship Portal: A unified platform providing information on various scholarship programs across India.
• Merit-cum-Means: A criterion for scholarships that considers both academic performance and financial need.