Grants-Aid to Collegiate Education in Karnataka:Current Status and Policy Issues

This paper makes a positive analysis of the current status and policy issues in the grants-in-aid to private degree and law colleges (or the GIA, in brief) in Karnataka State. The current status is described in terms of nature, scope and objectives of the GIA, trends in the size and growth of GIA and current characteristics of the colleges on the GIA (or aided colleges). The major policy issue in the current GIA is traced back to the start of national economic reforms in the country in July, 1991, especially in regard to expenditure reduction strategies for containing the deficits of the Central and State governments. And, various issues and implications, arising out of a reduction in the GIA, for the State governments, teachers, students and management of the aided colleges are examined.