Book excerpt: Higher education is vital to India's future, creating democratic citizens and a modern economy, building communities and cities and conducting research the country needs to continue its advance. Yet, with two thirds of people of India living in rural areas and urban incomes below the world average, in a culturally diverse country, the tragic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and profound problems of regional, social and gender inequalities, higher education faces many challenges. This book brings together experts and emerging researchers from India and the UK to discuss these issues and to explore positive solutions. The team shine the spotlight on financing and funding, governance and regulation, sector organisation and institutional classification, equity and social inclusion, the large and poorly regulated private sector, Union-State relations in higher education, student political activism, and internationalisation.