Equity in education is well recognized as central to achieving inclusive growth and development. The second in the series initiated by the Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education of the National University of Educational Planning and Administration, India Higher Education Report 2016 focuses on the theme of equity in higher education. The report examines issues related to the expansion of higher education; economic, social, regional and gender inequalities and their implications on education; student diversity and discrimination; and the changing roles of the state, market and private sector in a period of massification of the education sector. The book also addresses topics on learning outcomes, and employment and employability of higher education graduates. The discussions in the book centre on the theoretical perspectives and empirical evidences. This book will be an important resource for academics, policy makers, civil society organizations, media and those concerned with higher education and development. It will also be useful to scholars and researchers of education, public policy, sociology and economics.

Acknowledgements N.V. Varghese, Nidhi S. Sabharwal and C.M. Malish Higher Education and Equity: Introduction to IHER 2016
Part I Equity and Development
Rajan Gurukkal The State, Markets, Equity and Quality in Higher Education Padma Velaskar The Redefinition of Equality and Excellence and Declining Goals of Democratic Egalitarianism in Higher Education Amitabh Kundu Economic and Educational Inequalities in India: Access and Outcome Indicators for Different Socio-Religious Groups Sukhadeo Thorat and Khalid Khan Private Sector and Equity in Higher Education: Challenges of Growing Unequal Access
Part II Regional and Social Inequalities
Sachidanand Sinha Regional Disparities in Availability, Access and Equity in Higher Education in India Vani K. Borooah Higher Education in India: Access, Quality and Structure M.M. Ansari Concerns of Minority Groups in Higher Education: The Plight of Muslim Community Ratna M. Sudarshan Higher Education and Gendered Norms: Enabling the `Use’ of Women’s Education Kalpana Kannabiran and Soumya Vinayan Disability Rights in Higher Education: A Preliminary Investigation of Exclusion and Barriers in Indian Universities
Part III Equity in Outcomes
Madhusoodanan J., Nidhi S. Sabharwal and C.M. Malish Equity and Excellence: A Study of Navodaya Vidyalaya S. Madheswaran and Smrutirekha Singhari Disparities in Outcome: Graduate Labour Market in India Mona Khare Disparities in Graduate Employability Skills
Part IV Diversity and Discrimination
Ashwini Deshpande Access and Exclusion: Mapping Social Diversity in Education in India Wandana Sonalkar Equity in Higher Education: What Happens after Entry? Nidhi S. Sabharwal and C.M. Malish Diversity and Discrimination: Role of Higher Education for Civic Learning Index