Every ranking system rates Indian universities poorly against their Asian counterparts in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, and in some cases, even universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The question then is why, given that in 1947 it could fairly be said that at least a dozen Indian universities were leaders in Asia and were of international repute, Indian universities are in an egregious condition. This chapter essays some answers. It also argues for curricular reform, in particular for the introduction of public policy studies at the major Indian universities.
