This book deals with the predicament of Indian universities, the objectives with which they were set up, and the extent to which they have remained true to those objectives. While the focus is on contemporary India, the book contextualizes the discussion in a historical and comparative perspective. The author examines the causes and consequences of the rapid growth in the number and size of Indian universities since the middle of the twentieth century, and argues that the growth has happened both in response to the continuous expansion of knowledge and to meet the goals of social inclusion.

Written in an accessible style, Universities at the Crossroads will be invaluable reading for both scholars and lay readers interested in India's system of higher education.