Higher Education in India: A Perspective of Its Autonomy and Accountability

ABSTRACT This paper aims at revealing the facts related to the status of autonomy and accountability in Indian higher education institutions which comprises a historical account and contemporary policy concerns, practices and challenges. After review of data from secondary sources, this study found that in India there are two major contradicting contexts. One is that where the institutions have restricted autonomy but are held accountable in defined forms and the other are the institutions which exercise fairly more autonomy but do not have expected accountability. Considering the prevailing circumstances, through this paper it is recommended that there is a need for balancing autonomy and accountability in management of higher education with prudential leadership and equitable distribution of resources meant for education in India so as to make it more approachable and productive.