Steep learning curve: Clarity needed on autonomy for universities

The real concern is the impact this autonomy will have on fee structures

The National Democratic Alliance’s move to grant autonomy to 52 universities and eight colleges marks a brave new direction in federal education policy. Following similar moves for the premier management institutes and Indian Institutes of Technology, this announcement marks a consistent trajectory set out in the draft education policy. As a broad principle, this is a desirable development, especially if the institutional energy freed up by the HRD ministry is focused on the delivery of quality primary, secondary, and vocational education. Doubts, however, arise on several points. The first is the scope of the autonomy. The term may imply a