Impact of Socio-Economic Factors in Access to Higher Education among Scheduled Castes in Uttar Pradesh

Indian caste system is based on highly unequal elements of socio-economic factors which also affect the accessibility to higher education among the scheduled castes. The present paper is an attempt to analyze the impact of socio-economic factors on accessibility to higher education among SCs. The study is based on quantitative work of primary data surveyed from three districts of Uttar Pradesh namely, Faizabad, Sonbhadra and Lucknow. Analysis reveals that income is most important factor which is directly or indirectly related to other factors in order to promote accessibility to higher education among SCs. Moreover, early marriage, lack of educational resource and facilities, illiteracy or low level of parental education, larger household size and earning while learning have negative impact on accessibility to higher education.