Education and Federalism in India

Book Details:

• Author: M.R. Kolhatkar

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788131605226

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches

• Pages: 368

About the Book:
As India enters the twenty-first century, education has emerged as the master determinant of development and assumes unprecedented significance. The Right to Education Act, which focuses on the universalization of elementary education, is central to the country’s development strategy. Furthermore, there is an increasing emphasis on India’s demographic dividend, which can be fully realized if the working-age population is equipped with the necessary skills. This requires near-universal access to secondary and higher secondary education.

India must also significantly enhance its higher education participation rates to compete globally in the World Knowledge Economy, aiming to raise participation from around 10-12% to 15-20%. This expansion would not only necessitate mass higher education but also substantial growth in research capacity and scientific output, including patents and scholarly publications.

However, these educational goals must be achieved within the framework of India’s parliamentary federalism, requiring the cooperation of India’s States and Union Territories. Education is a concurrent subject in India’s Constitution, meaning that both the State and the Center can legislate on educational matters. Therefore, the performance of education in India is intricately shaped by Center-State relations. This book examines this crucial but often overlooked aspect of India’s educational landscape, specifically how Indian federalism impacts educational policy and performance.

Filling a significant gap in academic literature, this book provides an in-depth analysis of various sub-areas of education in India, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by the country’s complex educational federalism.

Contents:

• [Contents listed here]

About the Author:
M.R. Kolhatkar is a distinguished Indian Administrative Service officer with significant contributions to the education sector, having held key positions both at the State (as Education Secretary) and Central levels (as Joint Secretary overseeing Higher Education and Adviser in the Planning Commission). He has participated in major international conferences, including the Jomtien Conference on Education for All (1990), and has presented at UNESCO and ADB meetings. Kolhatkar has published widely, with contributions to periodicals like IJPA, JEPA, University News, and EPW, and has authored or edited two books.