SBI Research has suggested changes to India’s higher education system, including a possible amendment to Article 21 of the Constitution to support a right to free and fair educational opportunity.
The suggestions were part of its latest report, which also called for giving statutory status to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and introducing reforms in examinations conducted by state public service commissions. The report also suggested replacing the NTA’s current status as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act with a statutory body created through an Act of Parliament. It recommended clearer legal responsibilities, permanent expertise and independent review of the agency. The report also referred to China’s Gaokao examination and suggested that India could study its approach to areas such as logistics, implementation and handling examinations at a large scale. The report pointed to gaps in funding and staffing in higher education. The report also called for faster expansion of vocational training.
SBI Research said the NTA had conducted more than 240 examinations for over 5.4 crore candidates by July 2024. It said the share of higher education in total government expenditure was around 1 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent in FY18. It also noted that 34 per cent of sanctioned teaching positions across centrally funded institutions were vacant. SBI Research suggested raising the expenditure share to 1.5 per cent and filling vacant positions. In 2025, 30.7 per cent of Indians aged 15-29 had received or were receiving vocational training, up from 7.1 per cent in 2018, according to the report.
The proposed right should protect students from fraud, discrimination and unreasonable barriers while accessing education, according to the report. “We propose whether Article 21 of Indian constitution can be amended to support a right to free and fair educational opportunity,” the report said. It added that “free” should mean freedom from fraud, discrimination and unreasonable barriers.
