As a nation, we are in a great dilemma on the financing of public higher educational institutions. Highly subsidized quality higher education, with admissions based strictly on merit, continues to be a great hope for upward socio- economic (345)[alternate]. This public demand has also ensured that there is consensus across the political spectrum on the need for setting up new IITs, IIMS, AIIMS, NITs, etc. On the other hand, as the number of such institutions increases, the (346) main] requirements for supporting them will prove to be a challenge. What are the alternatives? Globally there is a shift towards charging a higher (347) Fraction] of education costs as fees even in European countries where traditionally, higher education was completely free. For the purpose of inclusion of students from economically weaker sections, there is the provision of education loans, often at lower-than-commercial rates. This has resulted in education loan-driven higher education, which has clear_(348)[explicit] for blocking the socio-economic mobility of poor people, even in an affluent country like the United States. In a country like India, public-funded institutions where the full fee is financed through loans are undesirable for many reasons. One, it will make education inaccessible to many who cannot afford to be (349) [casted] with such large loans Second, heavy debt would result in higher education being seen more as capital investment. It would lead to the clear (350)__ Graduation objective of getting a quick return on investment. The net result would be that graduates would opt for safe career options - even more than they currently do-that provide the "highest package" and not those choices that may be low-paying but have greater social value and impact and which the graduate may (351) [needlessly] want to pursue. Medical education in India has already fallen into this trap, with high cost of education in private and foreign institutions, the increase in volume is not resulting in (352) [producing] access for a significant section of the population. Further, in the Indian socio-economic context where, even today, most students pursue academic programmes and careers that are forced on them by family and not out of their own choice, there is another great disadvantage. Just when we were seeing some change - in at least a small fraction of students the increase in fees or a greater loan burden would put the clock back The "loan model" is gaining (353) attenuations] in the public (354)_[regard] in India primarily driven by the stories of high-paying jobs for IIT graduates

Options

A. focused
B. success
C. traction
D. force

Answer

C