HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: NEW CHALLENGES AND WAYS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
The article is devoted to the problems faced by the higher school of the Republic of India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways, forms and methods of overcoming the negative consequences of the pandemic, the restructuring of the educational process are revealed. Special attention is paid to the impact of socio-economic problems that have worsened during the pandemic on the access of Indian youth to higher education. The decisions of the authorities, administrations of universities of the republic on urgent measures to ensure the functioning of universities in emergency conditions are disclosed using specific examples. The article analyzes the similarities and differences in the approaches of Russian and Indian universities in the organization of the educational process under the current restrictions. The statistical data describing the changes in the national system of higher education of the Republic of India during the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. The article presents an analysis of the reasons for the dropout of students in 2020-2021, primarily among students from among representatives of registered castes and registered tribes. The main approaches to the organization of e-learning and distance learning in Indian universities are revealed, as well as scientists ‘ forecasts about the future vectors of development of the Indian higher school. The conclusions made on the basis of the analysis can be useful to Russian authorities in the field of education, teams of domestic universities, scientists, students, etc.