Post-COVID Decline in Government College Admissions in India: Structural Barriers, Policy Gaps, and the Crisis of Higher Education

This qualitative study critically examines the sharp decline in student admissions to government colleges in India in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on socio-economically marginalised states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Drawing from recent government data, academic research, and policy critiques, the paper explores how structural inequalities exacerbated by the digital divide, economic hardship, and political apathy have eroded trust in public higher education. It highlights the limited effectiveness of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, whose ambitious reforms often overlook ground realities such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and the ongoing caste-based discrimination within academic institutions. Additionally, the rise of online and AI-based learning platforms, privatisation trends, and shifting youth aspirations toward short-term vocational courses and content creation further contribute to the crisis. The paper concludes that without inclusive, well-funded, and regionally adaptable interventions, the public education system risks deepening social exclusion and losing its relevance in contemporary India.