<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> <P> Besides top rated universities which provide highly competitive world class education to their pupils, India is also home to many universities which have been founded with the sole objective of making easy money . Regulatory authorities like UGC and AICTE have been trying very hard to extirpate the menace of private universities which are running courses without any affiliation or recognition . Indian Government has failed to check on these education shops, which are run by big businessmen & politicians . Many private colleges and universities do not fulfil the required criterion by the Government and central bodies (UGC, AICTE, MCI, BCI etc .) and take students for a ride . For example, many institutions in India continue to run unaccredited courses as there is no legislation strong enough to ensure legal action against them . Quality assurance mechanisms have failed to stop misrepresentations and malpractices in higher education . At the same time regulatory bodies have been accused of corruption, specifically in the case of deemed - universities . In this context of lack of solid quality assurance mechanism, institutions need to step - up and set higher standards of self - regulation . </P> <P> Our university system is, in many parts, in a state of disrepair...In almost half the districts in the country, higher education enrollments are abysmally low, almost two - third of our universities and 90% of our colleges are rated as below average on quality parameters...I am concerned that in many states university appointments, including that of vice-chancellors, have been politicised and have become subject to caste and communal considerations, there are complaints of favouritism and corruption . </P>

What is primary and secondary education in india