Always, reputation – good or bad – is due to both action and perception. Universities are perceived and considered to be good if their output, i.e., students primarily and research and such other activities along with it, is considered good. In the case of government institutions, a lot of times the facilities, infrastructure, staff and all other requirements are very much inadequate. Yet, the students come out with good levels of academic achievements, placement, and other achievements. This is also due to the fact that there are good “incoming” students. They naturally achieve high levels due to their own activities also. Added to this, some of the staff are very well placed in their fields and hence contribute to research, etc. Thus, even though the government colleges are “inadequate” they don’t earn the same bad reputation.
On the other hand, there are several private colleges where there are good facilities and output. These institutions enjoy a high standing by their own earning and right. At the same time, some of the private institutions are driven by economic and financial requirements alone and only that; there is hardly any consideration to the requirements of what is offered to the students and the society. This impacts the infrastructure, staff quality and all other things. These institutions naturally attract a bad reputation.
Thus, it is not right to generalize that private institutions get a bad reputation in India. This is true for all kinds of institutions. It is also not a case in India only; it is true anywhere else too wherever quality is not given its dues appropriately.