Prioritize Investment in Quality Education, Research, and Innovation

Prof. D. Mukherjee
India is confronting ongoing geopolitical issues with neighboring nations such as Pakistan and China, and the recent hostilities with Bangladesh have intensified these challenges. Addressing these threats requires not only military readiness but also a commitment to enhancing education, research, and innovation, as long-term intellectual and economic prowess often outweighs military might. Despite the rapid progress seen globally, India’s higher education system is hindered by outdated pedagogical practices, underqualified faculty, and inadequate funding for research. The growth of private universities reflects these shortcomings, where even qualified staff members with credentials such as NET or Ph.D. earn exceptionally low salaries ranging from INR 10,000-15,000. The International Labour Organization’s Wage Report 2024 highlights that wage disparities within India’s education sector discourage talented individuals from pursuing academic careers, resulting in private institutions often staffed by demotivated or unqualified educators. Excessive administrative burdens and poor working environments stifle creativity and career development.
Teaching methodologies at numerous public and private institutions depend excessively on rote memorization, which limits students’ critical thinking and innovative capabilities. Additionally, research funding is limited in private schools, and faculty frequently juggle non-academic responsibilities that detract from their ability to engage in scholarly work. These challenges undermine the academic integrity of private institutions and leave graduates ill-prepared to face global challenges. Furthermore, many private universities lack essential infrastructure, such as well-stocked libraries, research labs, and necessary digital tools for fostering inquiry and skill development. This deficiency exacerbates the quality divide between private and public institutions.
The disparities between elite public universities like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS and their private counterparts further exacerbate the situation. Public institutions attract worldwide talent, substantial funding, and uphold rigorous academic standards, while many private universities prioritize profit over educational quality, undermining academic integrity. Regulatory bodies, including the UGC and AICTE, have largely failed to address these entrenched problems. Weak oversight has allowed private institutions to flout regulations related to faculty qualifications, compensation, and infrastructure. Inspections often serve as a mere formality, and funding policies tend to favor public institutions disproportionately regarding research and innovation.
To effectively bridge the gap between public and private higher education, reforms in regulations, infrastructure, and teaching methodologies are essential, yet such efforts appear surprisingly absent.
Comparing the higher education systems of India and China reveals stark differences in priorities, funding, and outcomes. While China has positioned itself as a global leader in research and innovation, India grapples with systemic inefficiencies that hinder its international competitiveness. By investigating China’s strategic roles in government funding, research infrastructure, faculty support, technology adoption, and international partnerships, valuable lessons emerge for reforming India’s higher education landscape. China allocates over 4% of its GDP to education, significantly investing in higher education and research, leading to state-of-the-art infrastructure, pioneering innovations, and global recognition for institutions like Tsinghua and Peking Universities. In contrast, India allocates around 3% of its GDP to education, with an even smaller share for higher education, limiting infrastructure development and research capabilities and preventing Indian universities from competing on a global scale. Increasing the educational budget is vital for fostering sustainable progress.
China’s supremacy in research is highlighted by its vast scientific output and patent creation, supported by substantial funding and strategic alliances. Conversely, India’s research sector struggles with underfunding, resulting in a significantly lower output of academic publications. Establishing well-financed research hubs and prioritizing focus areas like artificial intelligence and renewable energy is crucial in bridging this gap.
Faculty well-being represents another area where China excels, providing competitive salaries, research grants, and professional development opportunities. In contrast, educators in India, particularly within private institutions, experience low pay, poor working conditions, and limited job security. Reforms regarding salary structures, incentives, and professional development are critical to attracting and retaining top talent.
Moreover, China has fully embraced advanced educational technologies, integrating AI, big data, and digital resources to enhance learning and streamline operations. Indian institutions, dependent on traditional techniques, must adopt such innovations to modernize education delivery and adequately prepare students for future challenges. In terms of international collaboration, China significantly outpaces India, leading to educational success through partnerships that amplify research and global outreach. India must broaden its international collaborations beyond elite institutions to include a wider range of universities, thus facilitating access to global resources and diverse viewpoints. Furthermore, China’s centralized governance model allows for effective policy implementation and long-term strategy development, while India’s decentralized model often leads to inefficiencies. A more streamlined governance structure, characterized by transparent and accountable regulations, is essential for fostering quality and innovation.
At this pivotal moment in history, India faces rising pressures from adversarial neighbors, necessitating a strategic realignment of national priorities. Thus, investing in quality education, resilient research frameworks, and a culture of innovation is imperative. These components are not merely developmental tools; they are fundamental pillars of national strength. Unfortunately, the current state of higher education in India, especially within private institutions, reflects deep systemic issues that threaten to impede the nation’s potential for growth and adaptability. One of the most urgent challenges is the disparity in faculty salaries and job security across public and private institutions. Many skilled educators, discouraged by inadequate compensation and unstable employment conditions, opt out of academic careers, thereby undermining the nation’s intellectual capital. The government must address these disparities by establishing standardized pay and equitable working conditions across all educational institutions, which would help attract and retain proficient educators, cultivating an environment conducive to academic excellence.
India’s research landscape also needs substantial improvement. Given its critical role in fostering innovation and tackling global challenges, it is essential to bridge the funding gap between public and private institutions. Increasing the share of GDP dedicated to higher education and ensuring equitable resource distribution is crucial. Empowering private institutions with adequate financial resources and opportunities in pioneering fields like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and biotechnology would strengthen India’s global position as an innovator.
Additionally, modernizing regulatory frameworks that govern higher education is paramount. Existing regulations often emphasize superficial compliance rather than targeted improvement in quality, equity, and innovation. Reforming these frameworks to prioritize outcomes over processes would ensure institutions are held accountable for enhancing education and research quality. Transparent and effective regulatory oversight is vital in maintaining high standards across both public and private institutions.
Expanding international collaboration is also crucial for meaningful reforms. By establishing partnerships with global universities and research institutes, India can raise its academic institutions’ quality and visibility. Enhanced faculty and student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and efforts to secure international accreditation are essential for exposing Indian institutions to global best practices, bolstering their reputation worldwide. Such collaborations would create a robust platform for knowledge interchange benefiting both educators and students.
Empowering educators and researchers is central to all these strategies. Faculty must be afforded access to ongoing training, advanced resources, and development opportunities to stay current with global advancements, ensuring that Indian institutions are equipped to produce graduates capable of navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.
India must adopt a comprehensive strategy to revitalize its higher education system. This includes increasing education funding to 6% of GDP, improving faculty welfare, integrating technology, expanding global partnerships, and enforcing effective governance. Drawing lessons from China’s successes could help India reform its academic ecosystem, fostering innovation, economic growth, and global leadership in education and knowledge.
Despite being the world’s third-largest higher education system—comprising 398 state universities, 332 private universities, 49 central universities, 125 deemed universities, along with IITs, IIMs, IISERs, AIIMS, ICAI, ICMAI, ICSI, NITs, IISc, etc.—India faces significant systemic hurdles that obstruct its aspiration for global excellence. The rise of predominantly profit-driven private universities within this sector often leads to issues such as faculty exploitation, discouraging talented professionals from academic careers and negatively impacting educational and research quality. Regulatory bodies like the UGC must enforce standardized pay scales and equitable conditions across institutions to cultivate a motivated educational workforce.
The Indian research environment also struggles due to inadequate funding and infrastructure. To compete on the global stage, substantial investments in advanced research, innovation hubs, and progressive teaching methods are essential. Strengthening collaborations between academia, industry, and international institutions can provide the necessary resources and exposure for advancement. Effective governance and regulatory reforms are essential to streamline processes, ensure accountability, and prioritize quality over bureaucratic compliance. By addressing faculty welfare, research funding shortages, and innovation gaps, India can transform its higher education system into a robust driver of national development and security—steering the nation toward global leadership in innovation, economic growth, and intellectual excellence, while confidently addressing geopolitical challenges.
(The author is an Educationist, Management Scientist, and Independent Researcher)