<P> Home - schooling is legal in India, though it is the less explored option . The Indian Government's stance on the issue is that parents are free to teach their children at home, if they wish to and have the means. The then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has stated that despite the RTE Act of 2009, if someone decides not to send his / her children to school, the government would not interfere . </P> <P> After passing the Higher Secondary Examination (the Standard 12 examination), students may enrol in general degree programmes such as bachelor's degree (graduation) in arts, commerce or science, or professional degree programme such as engineering, law or medicine and become B. Sc., B. Com., and B.A. graduates . India's higher education system is the third largest in the world, after China and the United States . The main governing body at the tertiary level is the University Grants Commission (India) (UGC), which enforces its standards, advises the government, and helps coordinate between the centre and the state up to Post graduation and Doctorate (Ph. D). Accreditation for higher learning is overseen by 12 autonomous institutions established by the University Grants Commission . </P> <P> As of 2012, India has 152 central universities, 316 state universities, and 191 private universities . Other institutions include 33,623 colleges, including 1,800 exclusive women's colleges, functioning under these universities and institutions, and 12,748 Institutions offering Diploma Courses . The emphasis in the tertiary level of education lies on science and technology . Indian educational institutions by 2004 consisted of a large number of technology institutes . Distance learning is also a feature of the Indian higher education system . The Government has launched Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan to provide strategic funding to State higher and technical institutions . A total of 316 state public universities and 13,024 colleges will be covered under it . </P> <P> Some institutions of India, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) have been globally acclaimed for their standard of under - graduate education in engineering . Several other institutes of fundamental research such as the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Harish - Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) are also acclaimed for their standard of research in basic sciences and mathematics . However, India has failed to produce world class universities both in the private sector or the public sector . </P>

Govt of india flagship programme for secondary education is