The rising costs of higher education in India have become a significant barrier for many students, threatening to undermine the country’s aspirations for inclusive growth and development. Higher education, once considered a key to upward mobility, is now increasingly out of reach for many, especially from middle and lower-income families. Over the last decade, the cost of tuition and associated fees has escalated substantially. In 2023, for instance, the fee for a professional undergraduate course at top private institutions ranged from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year.

This is a steep increase compared to just a few years ago, when fees were typically in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh annually. Even at government-run universities where fees are relatively lower, students must often pay extra for hostel accommodation, study materials, and other........

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