Archive · 20 Sep 2026
India’s Higher Education Needs a Transparent Public Data System
India has a very large higher education system with many universities, colleges and students.
However, it is difficult for people to find clear and up-to-date information about how institutions are performing.
Much of the available information is old, scattered or collected mainly to satisfy government requirements.
The authors say India should create a public data platform for higher education.
This platform could connect existing systems and allow universities and states to share information safely.
People could then compare courses and institutions using information about learning, employment, finances and student experiences.
The authors also want strong privacy protections and consent-based data use.
They suggest starting with about 200 well-resourced institutions before expanding the system nationwide.
India has 1,168 universities, more than 45,000 colleges and 4.33 crore enrolled students, but its data systems remain fragmented.
The latest AISHE survey dates to 2021-22 and relies heavily on institutions’ self-reporting.
Existing sources such as NIRF and NAAC provide useful but limited information, while much institutional data remains scattered in inaccessible PDFs.
The authors propose a trusted, decentralized public platform linking AISHE, APAAR, the Academic Bank of Credits and DigiLocker with university and state systems.
They recommend publishing standardized data on completion, employment, learning, student wellbeing, faculty vacancies, finances and placements.
- Who
- Debananda Misra and Nirved Kumar, writing about Indian higher education, propose a stronger public data system.
- What
- They call for a trusted, searchable and decentralized platform that connects existing higher education data and publishes standardized institutional information.
- When
- The proposal responds to current developments including Bharat Innovation 2026, foreign university campus plans and examination paper leaks; the latest AISHE survey cited was conducted in 2021-22.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The authors argue that higher education has expanded faster than the infrastructure needed to understand, govern and evaluate it fairly.
- Higher education scale
- India has 1,168 universities, more than 45,000 colleges and 4.33 crore enrolled students.
- Gross Enrolment Ratio
- The GER was 28.4% in the 2021-22 AISHE survey.
- National target
- NEP 2020 aims to raise the GER to 50% by 2035.
- Global rankings
- Fifty-four Indian universities feature in the QS World Rankings 2026.
- Foreign campuses
- More than 15 foreign universities have announced campuses in India.
- Existing data source
- AISHE is described as India’s most comprehensive higher education data source, but it relies heavily on institutional self-reporting.
- Suggested starting point
- The authors recommend beginning with about 200 Institutes of National Importance and other well-resourced institutions.