• SHEETAL

Higher education is generally recognized as a powerful instrument for bringing socio-economic advancement as well as it is acting as a vehicle for bringing upward social mobility in all the sections of the society. During the last six decades since independence, there has been phenomenal development of education system in India, resulting in the creation of one of the largest education systems of the world. Now, India has emerged as the third largest higher education system of the world. Although Government of India had set up several educational commissions (appointed timely) and also provided valuable suggestions and recommended various schemes to arrange maximum facilities in order to uplift the education for deprived sections and women welfare. But still women have limited access to higher education. Although there is an enhancement in the GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio) of women from last few decades, But a lot of is yet to be done and yet to be achieved. There is still a huge gap between male (82.14%, in 2011) and female (65.46%, in 2011) literacy rates in India. Women, in India lagging behind to male due to several reasons like gender discrimination, sexual harassments, poverty and economic factors, adequate policy framework and improper implementation of schemes launched by government and non-governmental agencies etc. In this paper, the author has analyzed gender-based educational disparities among various social sections with special reference education of women at higher level. The author has discussed and evaluated the current status of participation of women, issues, some schemes, funding agencies, barriers and challenges and suggestions for further enhancement of women participation at higher education level.

Keywords: Funding agencies and Schemes, Future Challenges, Higher Education.

"Contemporary Issues and Future Challenges for Women in Higher Education", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.668-678, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907B20.pdf

"Contemporary Issues and Future Challenges for Women in Higher Education", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp668-678, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907B20.pdf