But we are more interested in statism than access. By some estimates Indians are now spending over two billion dollars on consuming foreign higher education. Why cannot our system mobilise these funds? Why cannot we become the education hub of the world? Or further still, why cannot fees be rationalised, or universities manage their assets better?

The third element in enhancing supply of quality institutions is serious institutional reform of public institutions. How many of our three hundred odd public universities are serious institutions? The core problem is that decision-making is no longer in the hands of serious academics. The imperatives of politics have taken over at almost all levels of governance. How can you have a competitive university system where incentives for performance are so ill structured, where all systems of accountability have broken down, and where institutional architectures marginalise innovation and reform?

Even flagship institutions like IIT's and IIM's have serious faculty shortage. But the government would rather regulate the private sector than put its own house in order.

Or finally take the problem currently on the agenda: access. Are numerical quotas the only solution to the problem of access? What about other policy instruments? Investment in primary and secondary education? Support programs and scholarships? Of course, our institutions need to be socially inclusive, and it is a loss to the nation if we fritter away so much merit.

But is opportunity created by providing the artificial crutch of numerical quotas, or by providing adequate resources to all? Some form of affirmative action will still be required for some groups but who should such action target? Are the historical and social claims of OBC's the same as those of SC's and ST's? Is there no space at all to experiment with other forms of affirmative action?

... contd.