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By:

Bhaskar Nath Biswal

13 May 2026 at 3:00:30 pm

Restoring Ethics in Higher Education

AI generated image In the cultural fabric of India, the educator has historically occupied a space higher than the temporal world, encapsulated in the sacred maxim ‘Acharya Devo Bhava’, the teacher is akin to the divine. This guru-shishya parampara was not merely an instructional methodology but a spiritual covenant where knowledge was transmitted alongside a rigorous code of moral rectitude. Today, that revered pedestal is fracturing. The deeply unsettling revelations surrounding the...

Restoring Ethics in Higher Education

AI generated image In the cultural fabric of India, the educator has historically occupied a space higher than the temporal world, encapsulated in the sacred maxim ‘Acharya Devo Bhava’, the teacher is akin to the divine. This guru-shishya parampara was not merely an instructional methodology but a spiritual covenant where knowledge was transmitted alongside a rigorous code of moral rectitude. Today, that revered pedestal is fracturing. The deeply unsettling revelations surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) leaks, involving the alleged complicity of university chemistry and botany professors, have laid bare a deeper systemic malaise. This is not an isolated incident of administrative lapse; it represents a profound crisis of academic ethics, signalling that the very custodians of the nation's intellectual and moral future are compromising the integrity of the system they were sworn to protect. Fragile Credibility As more cases of unethical behaviour within the teaching community emerge, ranging from plagiarized research and predatory journal publications to cash-for-marks scams, the credibility of the entire academic ecosystem hangs in the balance. The transformation of education from a noble mission into a transactional marketplace has eroded public trust. When professors, who are supposed to mentor the next generation of doctors, scientists and thinkers, engage in paper leaks and institutional fraud, they do not just cheat a system; they actively jeopardize public safety and institutional merit. The psychological toll on millions of honest, hardworking students who find their futures hijacked by the greed of a few privileged insiders is immeasurable. Historically, the government has recognized that the progress of the nation relies heavily on the quality and dignity of its teaching community. Significant fiscal measures, periodic pay commission hikes and enhanced service conditions have been implemented over the decades to attract and retain premier talent in academia. The underlying philosophy has been simple: by securing the financial and social well-being of educators, society ensures their autonomy and insulates them from corrupting influences. Furthermore, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was envisioned as a watershed moment to explicitly address these foundational cracks. The policy outlines a comprehensive framework for restructuring teacher education, establishing merit-based tenure tracks and fostering a culture of continuous professional development steeped in ethical practice. NEP 2020 explicitly aims to restore the status of teachers as the most respected members of society, linking accountability directly with institutional autonomy. Massive Disconnect In tandem with legislative policy, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has consistently formulated regulations to preserve academic hygiene. From setting up stringent Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) reference lists to filter out fraudulent journals, to mandating anti-plagiarism software and institutional ethical committees, the regulatory framework exists. The UGC has repeatedly warned universities against malpractices and instituted strict punitive measures for academic dishonesty. Yet, despite these top-heavy policy interventions and regulatory mechanisms, a massive disconnect persists when these ideals translate to the ground level. The practical reality in Indian higher education institutions reveals a battlefield of perverse incentives. At the ground level, professors are often trapped in a hyper-competitive ‘publish or perish’ culture where quantitative metrics override qualitative excellence. Academic promotions and institutional funding are tied to bureaucratic checklists, forcing many to take ethical shortcuts. Furthermore, the massive commercialization of coaching industries and the hyper-inflation of grades have created immense external pressure, turning examinations into high-stakes battlefields where the temptation for financial kickbacks becomes overwhelming. Academic administrators are frequently selected based on political patronage rather than scholarly integrity. Restoring the tarnished image of the academic community requires a fundamental systemic recalibration. Ethical training must be integrated as a core, non-negotiable component of teacher training and doctoral coursework, rather than treated as a peripheral bureaucratic formality. Institutional audits must become transparent, shifting the focus from mere box-ticking to holistic evaluations of an educator's contribution to learning and mentorship. The teaching community itself must foster a culture of collective internal accountability, where peer pressure actively discourages ethical compromises instead of protecting errant colleagues. The crisis triggered by the NEET leaks is a final wake-up call for a nation that prides itself on its civilizational intellectual heritage. Reclaiming the sanctity of the ‘Acharya’ is not merely an exercise in nostalgic romanticism; it is an urgent structural necessity for the survival of India's democratic and developmental aspirations. Only when ethics are restored to the heart of pedagogy can the country rebuild the sacred trust between the teacher and the taught. (The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders. Views personal.)

Caste-based Census Sparks Nationwide Debate

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Caste-based Census

Caste-based identities continue to dominate rural India, directly or indirectly shaping electoral outcomes. Many major elections are influenced by specific caste groups. After the Bihar government released the first phase of its caste-based socio-economic survey, the caste census became a hot topic. The results, backed by evidence, showed improvements in the living standards and social status of marginalised communities, both in cities and villages. With parties like the JDU and NCP backing a caste census, there is growing momentum for the government to conduct one. However, every story has two sides—joy and sorrow. Even Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, raised concerns about the caste census.

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of being “anti-Bahujan.” The clear meaning is that his father and forefather refused to execute a caste-based census, which might have far-reaching effects and even permanently fracture India’s social fabric. This may be negative for caste-based beneficiaries. The last caste census in India was conducted in 1931 by the British government. Those times were different from the present scenario. The data was made public and became the basis for the Mandal Commission Reports and reservation policies for Other Backward Classes. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has clarified that the caste-based population count data will not be used for core politics. But the agenda for politics is always twisted and expanded.

The Central Government also joined the legal debate by filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court, leaving the matter unresolved. India’s partition, rooted in the divide-and-rule strategy, is frequently cited as a cautionary tale. Including caste in official census data could further deepen social divides. This issue has become a political pressure point, with various states pushing the Centre for action. Although the Constitution uses the term “class” instead of “caste,” the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that caste is a relevant, and at times, sole or dominant criterion for defining a backward class.

After the release of caste-based census data in Bihar, discussions around conducting similar censuses have gained momentum in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Karnataka, which has already conducted its own caste census, may release its data soon as well.

Notably, all these states are governed by anti-BJP parties. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also announced that Congress-ruled states have committed to carrying out caste censuses. Meanwhile, the BJP has remained silent on the matter, creating a significant roadblock.

Caste-based censuses focus on proportional representation in areas like jobs and education, with the argument that this will aid in targeted planning for the disadvantaged. However, the situation remains unclear, much like a foggy winter morning. The BJP’s stance on caste-based censuses and reservations seems different, as they fear the caste-based calculations could fragment their traditional Hindu voter base—an underlying concern for the party.

Professor Sanjay Kumar from The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says, “Let alone the BJP; no party can openly oppose it; it is not free from danger. BJP gets a large number of votes from the OBC community, their population across the country would be around 52%. Another downside is that the caste-based censuses could disrupt the balance of socio-economic zones. Data theft is a common issue in government systems, and people may feel disconnected from their actual rights.

The moot question is that if the financial status of an ST/SC/OBC or Dalit citizen moves up by a few notches, will his social status change automatically? The lifestyle of any class will only change when the income of a particular class is changed. The actual source of income is employment. The reality is that only metro cities have enough place and space for workers. Aside from the GIDC and IT sectors, less than 30% of industries have their own designated vacancy periods. After a decade, the Jamnagar and Rajkot Corporations have opened their doors to newcomers alongside experienced staff. However, age and caste bias often operate behind the scenes. It’s important to recognise that poverty is also widespread among many upper-caste individuals, and their needs cannot be overlooked. In the overall interests of the nation, terms like SC/ST/OBC, Dalits, etc. must be deleted from the nation’s vocabulary. Every citizen should have only one classification, that of being an ‘Indian’, in the spirit of the constitution.

Last year, when the Bihar government decided to conduct a caste survey in the state, the BJP was also Nitish Kumar’s partner in the state government, and it supported it. Political expert and former professor of Tata Institute of Social Science, Pushpendra Kumar, says, “It is not that the BJP does not talk about caste. It tries to reveal the caste of the Prime Minister as well. For caste politics, the BJP also tried hard to raise the issue of Pasmanda Muslims.”

(The writer is a management professional based in Ahmedabad. Views personal.)

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