Role of Government in Higher Education

India has a fairly large and diversified education system. Its billion-plus population consists of a higher proportion of children and young individuals, especially in the age group of 6-24 years, which is the most prospective age group in terms of academic inclinations. This age group accounts for more than onethird of the India's population. According to the National Knowledge Commission, for the first time in this decade, the total number of illiterates decreased from 329 million to 304 million.The literacy rate also increased from 18.3 per cent in 1951 to 67.3 per cent in 2004, as per HRD statistics.