Draft report of

Proposals/Recommendations for 11^th Five Year Plan
A Working Group on Higher Education was set up by the Planning Commission under the Chairmanship of Secretary (HE), vide order no. M-12015/2/2005-Edn. Subsequently, it was decided to constitute seven Sub-Working Groups on the following sectors of higher education:-
1. Central Universities

2. Deemed to be Universities

3. State Universities

4. Colleges

5. Distance Education

6. Quality of Higher Education

7. Research.
The reports of all the seven Sub-Working Groups are annexed (Annexure – I-VII).

The Working Group considered the recommendations of the Sub-Working Groups and its observations / recommendations are given in the subsequent chapters of this report.

Chapter – 3
POLICY PERSPECTIVE
3.1 On the eve of planning for the XIth Five Year Plan for Higher Education in India, it is incumbent to take stock of the contemporary global scenario education and the imperatives of both the competitive challenge as well as the priorities of distributive justice and equitable access in the growth of higher education in India. It is only through the blending of these twin parallel parameters that a proactive policy for ensuring inclusive growth of higher education in India has to be conceived and operationalised, which could withstand the challenges of competitive global environment without compromising with the exalted priorities of public policy.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD in its 172^nd Report has recommended that to reorient higher education system to be vibrant, competitive, meaningful and relevant, It will have to grow both in terms of quantity as well as quality, mainly with a view to converting its vast population as asset, rather than a liability.