This collection of six essays and six case studies analyzes efforts at reform and the changes that have taken place in Indian higher education over the past four decades. The six essays describe several innovative and interesting programs and analyze key policy areas. After an introduction by Philip G. Altbach and Suma Chitnis, titles include: (1) "The Dilemma of Change in Indian Higher Education" (Philip G. Altbach); (2) "Financing Higher Education in India" (Jandhyala B. G. Tilak); (3) "The Language Question in Higher Education: Trends and Issues" (N. Jayaram); (4) "Accessing Higher Education--The Dilemma of Schooling: Women, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Contemporary India" (Karuna Chanana); (5) "Examination Reform in Traditional Universities: A Few Steps Forward, Many Steps Back" (Mathew Zachariah); and (6) "Coordinating Agencies in Higher Education" (Amrik Singh); (7) "Scientific Research: Autonomous Research Institutions and Universities" (B. M. Udgaonkar); (8) "Institutions of Higher Education and Extension: The Case of Adult Education" (Denzil Saldanha and Padma Velaskar); (9) "Quest for Quality: Interventions Versus Impact" (Jayalakshmi Indiresan); (10) "The Indian Institutes of Technology: Excellence in Peril" (P. V. Indiresan and N. C. Nigam); (11) "The Open University" (V. C. Kulandai Swamy); and (12) "Gearing a Colonial System of Education to Take Independent India Towards Development" (Suma Chitnis). There are 55 tables throughout the book. (All selections contain extensive reference notes.) (CH)