UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Massification is the term used when higher education systems move from serving a small elite to enrolling a substantial share of the relevant age group. The stem describes this shift from restricted to broad access, so “massification” is the correct completion.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because “elite formation” implies maintaining or strengthening exclusivity, which is the opposite of making higher education accessible to many.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it precisely labels the stage where participation becomes wide enough to be considered mass rather than elite.

Option C:
Option C is wrong since “privatisation” focuses on ownership and funding patterns, not directly on how many people enrol.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because “homogenisation” refers to institutions becoming more similar, not to changes in participation rates or access.

Martin Trow distinguished between elite, mass and universal stages of higher education based on participation rates. When enrolment reaches about 50% or more of the age cohort, the system enters the universal stage. The stem clearly refers to this high participation threshold. Therefore, “universal” access is the correct term.

Option A:
Elite access corresponds to low participation rates limited to a small fraction of the population, often under 15%. This does not match the situation described in the question.

Option B:
Mass access indicates intermediate levels of participation, higher than elite but below universal levels. It does not represent half or more of the age cohort, so this option is less accurate.

Option C:
Universal access means that higher education becomes a normal expectation for most young people rather than a privilege of a minority, aligning perfectly with the description in the stem.

Option D:
Closed is not a category used in Trow’s original framework and would suggest exclusion rather than broad participation. Thus, this option is inappropriate.