Privatisation and Digitisation in higher education: An econometric assessment of accessibility and equity in India

This study examines the combined impact of privatisation and digitisation on the accessibility and equity of higher education in India, focusing on socio-economic, regional, and digital divides. Privatisation has led to an increase in private institutions, improving efficiency but also raising barriers for economically disadvantaged groups. Digitisation, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has expanded access through online and hybrid learning, but challenges like inadequate infrastructure, affordability issues, and low digital literacy persist, particularly in rural areas. Using advanced econometric techniques, including Difference-in-Differences (DiD) and Quantile Regression, this research evaluates changes in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) across different income groups and regions. The results show that while privatisation and digitisation have increased GER, their effects are not uniformly distributed, with higher benefits observed in urban and wealthier segments of the population. The study also highlights that rural and low-income students continue to face significant barriers to accessing education, despite the growth of private and digital options. The paper calls for targeted interventions, such as subsidies for low-income students, improved digital infrastructure, and robust regulatory frameworks to mitigate exclusionary effects, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education.