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Who Participates in Higher Education in India? Rethinking the Role of Affirmative Action

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  • Basant, Rakesh
  • Sen, Gitanjali

Abstract

This paper explores how socio-economic, especially socio-religious affiliations, and demographic characteristics of individuals influence participation in higher education (HE). It argues that appropriate measures of ‘deficits’ in participation should inform the nature and scope of affirmative action. The analytical and policy relevance of distinguishing between stock and flow measures, the differences in eligibility for HE across groups are emphasized. After controlling for relevant factors, the ‘hierarchy of participation in higher education’ that emerges from detailed analysis suggests that deficits for some marginalized groups are not high enough to justify reservation for these groups on the basis of low participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Basant, Rakesh & Sen, Gitanjali, 2009. "Who Participates in Higher Education in India? Rethinking the Role of Affirmative Action," IIMA Working Papers WP2009-11-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    • Handle: RePEc:iim:iimawp:8345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. K. Sundaram, 2006. "On Backwardness And Fair Access To Higher Education In India: Some Results From Nss 55th Round Surveys 1999-2000," Working papers 151, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    2. K. Sundaram, 2007. "Fair Access To Higher Education Re-Visited--Some Results For Social And Religious Groups From Nss 61st Round Employment-Unemployment Survey, 2004-05," Working papers 163, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    3. Banerjee, Abhijit & Somanathan, Rohini, 2007. "The political economy of public goods: Some evidence from India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 287-314, March.
    4. repec:bla:rdevec:v:5:y:2001:i:1:p:130-44 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Ashwini Deshpande, 2001. "Caste at Birth? Redefining Disparity in India," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(1), pages 130-144, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vachaspati Shukla & Udaya S. Mishra, 2019. "Educational Expansion and Schooling Inequality: Testing Educational Kuznets Curve for India," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 141(3), pages 1265-1283, February.
    2. Tewathia, Nidhi & Kamath, Anant & Ilavarasan, P. Vigneswara, 2020. "Social inequalities, fundamental inequities, and recurring of the digital divide: Insights from India," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    3. Bhupal, Ganita & Sam, Abdoul G., 2012. "Education and health outcomes for social minorities in India: An analysis using SUR model," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 124840, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Basant, Rakesh & Sen, Gitanjali, 2014. "Parental Education as a Criterion for Affirmative Action in Higher Education," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 803-814.
    5. Suhail Ahmad Mir & Shaswati Pramanik, 2017. "Socio-religious affiliation and higher education participation of Muslim minorities in India: a probit analysis," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 19(2), pages 365-386, October.
    6. Basant, Rakesh, 2012. "Education and Employment among Muslims in India: An Analysis of Patterns and Trends," IIMA Working Papers WP2012-09-03, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    7. Jannet Farida Jacob, 2018. "Higher Education in India from 1983 to 2014: Participation, Access and Labour Market Outcomes across Socio-religious Groups," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 12(1), pages 74-92, April.
    8. Basant, Rakesh & Sen, Gitanjali, 2016. "Impact of Affirmative Action in Higher Education for the Other Backward Classes in India," IIMA Working Papers WP2016-07-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    9. Indal Kumar & Indrani Roy Chowdhury, 2021. "Shadow Education in India: Participation and Socioeconomic Determinants," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 16(2), pages 244-272, August.
    10. Basant, Rakesh & Sen, Gitanjali, 2012. "Parental Education as a Criterion for Affirmative Action in Higher Education: A Preliminary Analysis," IIMA Working Papers WP2012-01-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.

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