Reservation in private universities is urgently needed

Source: The post Reservation in private universities is urgently needed has been created, based on the article “An incomplete social justice” published in “Indian Express” on 8 April 2025. Reservation in private universities is urgently needed.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Context: The issue of reservation in private higher educational institutions (PHEIs) has returned to public discussion after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated support for it. The legality of such reservations is already settled. What remains is political will. The idea is timely, and action is now needed.

Necessary Reservation in Private Universities

1. The idea has legal backing since 2005, with Article 15(5) allowing reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in aided and unaided private institutions (excluding minority institutions).
2. The Supreme Court upheld this in cases like IMA vs Union of India (2011) and Pramati Trust (2014).
3. The Congress party has long supported this policy. Its 2024 manifesto included the demand.
4. However, political will is still lacking, even though the idea’s time had “come long ago”.

Private higher education key to social inequality

1. Higher education now reflects what scholars call “effectively maintained inequality”.
2. As SCs, STs, and OBCs enter education, elite private institutions (with better faculty, classrooms, and placements) remain out of their reach.
3. Meanwhile, public institutions, which these groups depend on, are underfunded, overcrowded, and declining in quality.
4. Example: From 2015 to 2024, private universities rose from 276 to 523, and now form 26% of enrolments. Private unaided colleges host 45% of total college students.

Social composition of students in private vs public institutions

1. Upper-caste Hindus (20% of population) form over 60% of students in private universities.
2. In contrast, SCs (6.8%), STs (3.6%), and OBCs (24.9%) are severely underrepresented, despite making up 17%, 9%, and 45–50% of the population respectively.
3. Muslims (15% population) form only 3.8% of enrolment.
4. Public universities, which follow reservation: SCs: 14.6%, STs: 6%, OBCs: 31.2%

This shows that quota-based affirmative action does work.

Change in higher education landscape in India

Two major trends:

1. Increased enrolment by disadvantaged groups: Between 1990–91 and 2018–19

• Universities: 5.5× rise, Enrolment: 7.5× rise, GER: 2.5× rise
• Growth is faster among SCs, STs, OBCs, Muslims, and women within these groups.

2. Collapse of public education + rise of private education:

• Public colleges are turning into “time-pass” institutes, lacking quality and job prospects.
• Private institutions now offer top-tier education, but with no social diversity.

Way forward

1. Strengthen public institutions: More funds, better governance, regular faculty, autonomy, updated curriculum.
2. Enforce reservation in private HEIs: Mandate quota for SC, ST, OBCs in all non-minority private institutions.
3. Add freeships and scholarships: A fixed share of students must get financial support.
4. Despite the National Education Policy’s promises, it has done little to stop privatisation and commercialisation.
5. This policy shift can also help unite Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs under a common social justice platform.

Conclusion:

The legal and moral arguments for reservation in private education are clear. What’s missing is political urgency. Without state intervention, the divide in educational access will only grow, reinforcing caste and class inequalities.

Question for practice:

Examine the need for implementing reservation policies in private higher educational institutions in India in light of legal provisions, social inequality, and current trends in higher education.