(a) whether Indian Education System is ranking at a better place in comparison to world class
universities;
(b) if so,the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the steps taken by the Government so far to raise the standards of education in the country
to the international level;and
(d) the success achieved by the Government as a result thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT.D. PURANDESWARI )
(a)&(b): There are no authentic rankings of universities by UNESCO or other multi lateral bodies.
(c)&(d): For promotion of higher education, in the XI Plan,a target has been set to increase
the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)of the students in the eligible age group of 18-24 years in
higher education by 5 percentage points by the end of XI Plan.Within the constraint of availability
of resources an amount of Rs.84,943 crores has been provided by the Central Government in the
XI Plan for various schemes for enhancing access to quality higher education,while ensuring
equity.A substantial allocation has been made in the XI Plan for expansion of educational
institutions,including setting up of 16 new Central Universities to cover the hitherto uncovered
States,14 new Central Universities aimed at world class standards,new Indian Institutes of
Technology,Indian Institutes of Management,Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research and
new degree colleges in districts having a GER less than the National average.Schemes aimed
at providing assistance on a sharing basis to the Universities/Colleges to raise their standards
so as to become eligible for central assistance through the University Grants Commission under
Section 12 B of the University Grants Commission Act,1956 has also been envisaged.Various reforms
measures such as introduction of semester system,credit transfer,rationalization of admission
procedure for Ph.D. programmes have also been initiated.