The Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme was conceived to develop 'world-class' centres of higher education in India but six years later, it is yet to become the game changer it was intended to be. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)

Institutions of Eminence IoE scheme was aimed at tagging of institutions as IoE if they fulfilled a certain criteria such as: teacher to student ratio, rankings, result placements outcomes, foreign collaborations. TgP: Top university/institution. Analysis of IoE scheme: Intentions: world class centres subsidiary support. Improved outcomes. Improved Gross Enrolment Ratio etc.

However, 6 years later: 1) No university in top 100 of QS World Rankings 2024. 2) 27.5% GER in higher education. 3) Only 44% of higher education institutions are NAAC accredited. 4) Lack of R&D expenditure by government (<2%). Steps like NEP 2020 which aims at increasing GER to 50% by 2035; revision of nomenclature of educational institutions as graduate colleges, research institutions etc are steps in right direction. More measures are required such as: i Addressing 'leaky pipeline syndrome' of female education. ii Student exchange programmes need to be strengthened. iii Matching skill demand by increased academia-industry linkage.

More focus is therefore required to utilise IoE scheme for achieving the goals and objectives of socioeconomic development of India.