Is India’s Higher Education System a Case of Elusive Inclusive Development.xlsx The attached file is a data set for reference to the tables, and charts ..xlsx

The paper highlights the higher education (HE) landscape in India, which has witnessed an expansionary path since 2000 and presently emerges as one of the largest HE systems globally, is a laggard in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) with respect to G20 nations. The policy framework for HE in India since 1968, has been inclusive with provisions for the marginalised segments. Still, there is an urgent need to enhance the capacity at the institutional rather than at the university level,  at the districts in India. This will address the regional imbalances and aid in reaping this populous nation's demographic dividend. It is a given that India will not only miss Target 4.3 - for the Sustainable Development Goal to be envisaged by 2030, but also unlikely to achieve the 50% target of  GER  by 2035, laid out by National Education Policy  2020.<br>