President Pranab Mukherjee has called for increased investment in higher education. He said it should be affordable and accessible. He was speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Kishinchand Chellaram College of Mumbai. Mukherjee quoted Banjamin Franklin and Otto Van Bismark to reiterate that investment in education earns the highest return.

He said the time has come for India to recover the lost ground and become a world leader in education once again. He lamented the fact that today India’s institutes of higher learning are no longer counted among the best. He said India must develop capacities to retain its best minds.

Mukherjee said despite having over 650 universities and 33,000 colleges, the higher education enrolment ratio, at 7 per cent is far lower than other developed countries.

He said that the quality education is very essential and huge infrastructure development in education sector has taken place in the 11th five year plan.

President released a book of memoirs, ‘Our Universe’ featuring articles and photographs chronicling the colleges milestones. President is on two days tour to Maharashtra.