‘Political intrusions putting public varsities at grave risk’
Deepak Nayyar laments decline of excellence
Deepak Nayyar: ‘Standardization is the worst enemy of understanding and knowledge’
Civil Society News, New Delhi
Published: Mar. 24, 2026
Share
A robust education system should be the foundation of a rising economy. Children need to get the basics in school and, as young adults, they should leave college with degrees that equip them for the jobs they will do.
India struggles on both counts. Now, to improve higher education, the Modi government has drafted a law which will create a supreme central authority to govern colleges and universities across the country. The goal is to have uniformity and standardization.
But chances are that the government is going to end up doing more harm than good. As it is, political intrusion over the years has lowered standards of curriculums and teaching. Will the envisaged central authority further stifle higher education institutions through excessive control? Civil Society spoke to Deepak Nayyar, former vice-chancellor of Delhi University and a distinguished professor of economics.
Welcome to Civil Society's
new website!
Login to Civil Society by entering your email below