The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), was established in 1994. It bears the responsibility of assessing the quality of higher educational institutions in India. The body grants grades ranging from A++ to C based on an array of parameters including curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research, and financial health through a multi-layered assessment process.
Recent Controversies Surrounding NAAC
In recent times, allegations of irregularities within the functioning of NAAC have surfaced. The past chairperson of NAAC’s executive committee resigned over the supposed malpractices that led to questionable grades being awarded to certain institutions. An inquiry ordered subsequently uncovered anomalies in the IT system and the allocation of assessors, raising further questions about NAAC’s assessment processes. The investigation also revealed that nearly 70% of experts from a pool of around 4,000 assessors were not given any opportunity to make site visits.
NAAC Accreditation Among Indian Institutions
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021, only 418 universities and 9,062 colleges from a total of 1,113 universities and 43,796 colleges received NAAC accreditation as of January 2023.
Current Accreditation Criteria in India
At present, only institutions at least six years old or those from which at least two batches of students have graduated can seek accreditation which holds validity for five years. Though voluntary, repeated circulars from the UGC have urged institutions to undergo assessment. To speed up the accreditation process, the UCG launched a scheme ‘Paramarsh’ in 2019 for mentoring institutions aspiring for accreditation.
Challenges Faced by India’s Higher Education System
Despite efforts to improve access to higher education, numerous students from marginalized communities face entry barriers like financial restrictions and inadequate educational opportunities. The number of students in the Persons with Disabilities category witnessed a drop in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. There persist significant barriers for women accessing higher education including social and cultural biases. Also, employability issues are a major concern due to a dearth of practical skills and relevant industry education among numerous graduates.
Future Strategies for Improving India’s Higher Education
The promotion of digital learning through investment in digital infrastructure could make education more accessible and efficient. Accessibility and transparency in the accreditation process should be enhanced to motivate increased participation. International collaborations could further improve the quality of education and research in India.
Relevance to UPSC Civil Services Examination
For aspirants of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, understanding NAAC and its effects on higher education in India is crucial. For instance, a previous year question for the prelims asked about the aim of the ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ program, which is related to connecting higher education institutions with local communities to handle developmental challenges using suitable technologies. It denotes the significance of understanding the intricacies of India’s higher education system for the examination.