Overview
The Ministry of Education has rolled out a suite of measures to make higher education more affordable and inclusive. These steps align with the NEP‑2020. The focus is on scholarships, fee waivers, infrastructure financing, digital learning platforms and loan‑subsidy schemes.
Key Developments (2025‑26)
- Scholarships: About 1.09 crore post‑matric and higher‑education scholarships were granted, including 36 lakh for OBC/EBC/DNT, 48 lakh for SC and 24 lakh for ST students.
- Fee Waivers: Full tuition waiver for SC, ST and PwD students and families earning < ₹1 lakh per annum; 2/3rd remission for families earning ₹1‑5 lakh (applicable to IITs, NITs and 31 NITs/IIEST‑Shibpur for PG programmes).
- Infrastructure Funding: The HEFA has disbursed ₹24,977.62 crore since 2017. Central Universities received ₹1,13,943.55 crore (FY 2014‑15 to 2025‑26) and an additional ₹17,440 crore for FY 2026‑27.
- Girls’ Hostels: Union Budget 2026‑27 proposes one girls’ hostel in every district to boost female participation in STEM.
- Digital Initiatives: SWAYAM has delivered >20,000 courses with >6 crore enrolments; ONOS covers 7,499 HEIs.
- Loan Schemes: PM‑Vidyalaxmi has sanctioned 1,12,817 loans worth ₹15,634.78 crore. The PM‑USP CSIS and PM‑USP CGFSEL further reduce loan burden.
Important Facts
- GER in higher education rose from 23.7 % (2014‑15) to 30 % (2023‑24). Female GER increased from 22.9 % to 31.2 %.
- SC GER grew by 8.9 points and ST GER by 9.3 points over the same period.
- Total enrolment jumped from 3.42 crore to 4.50 crore, adding >1.08 crore students.
Exam Relevance
These initiatives intersect with multiple GS papers. GER trends are asked in GS‑1 and GS‑3. Understanding the structure of PM‑USP helps answer questions on education financing. The role of agencies like MoSJE and MoTA is relevant for polity‑related queries.
Way Forward
To sustain the upward trajectory, the government should:
- Strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure scholarship funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
- Expand digital infrastructure in remote areas to fully leverage SWAYAM and ONOS.
- Increase the cap on loan amounts under PM‑Vidyalaxmi for professional courses.
- Continue building gender‑sensitive hostels to maintain the rise in female GER.
These steps will deepen inclusivity, improve quality, and align India’s higher‑education ecosystem with the aspirations of NEP‑2020.