AISHE Report – Higher Education Enrolment Reaches 4.5 Crore

AISHE Report Latest News

• The Union Ministry of Education has released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2022-23 and 2023-24, showing that total student enrolment in higher education has reached 4.5 crore, with significant gains in women’s participation, STEM adoption, and inclusivity.

About the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

• The AISHE is a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, which tracks key indicators in the higher education sector. It covers:
  • Student enrolment
  • Faculty and teaching staff
  • Infrastructure and facilities
  • Programme and course offerings
  • Gender and social category participation
• The survey is a critical policy tool that informs decisions related to higher education planning, financial allocations, and reforms under initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 
• Data is submitted voluntarily by registered institutions through a web-based portal and verified using built-in validation checks.
• The latest AISHE covers 59,533 higher education institutions with an institutional participation rate of over 90%.

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News Summary: Key Findings of AISHE 2023-24

• Total Enrolment Reaches 4.5 Crore
  • Total enrolment in higher education rose to 4.5 crore in 2023-24.
  • This marks a 31.5% increase from 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
  • Reflects growing access and demand for higher education across India.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
  • GER, the proportion of people aged 18-23 enrolled in higher education, has improved significantly:
    • GER in 2023-24: 30
    • GER in 2022-23: 29.5
    • GER in 2014-15: 23.7
  • The rising GER shows that more young people are pursuing college education.
• Women’s Participation Continues to Rise
  • Female enrolment in 2023-24: 2.24 crore
  • Female enrolment in 2022-23: 2.18 crore
  • Female enrolment in 2014-15: 1.57 crore
  • This represents a 42.2% increase since 2014-15.
  • The female GER stood at 31.2 in 2023-24, higher than the national average.
• Gender Parity Index (GPI)
  • The GPI, which compares female and male participation, stood at 1.08 in 2023-24. 
  • A GPI above 1 indicates that more women than men are enrolled in higher education. The GPI has remained above 1 for seven consecutive years, showing a sustained trend of female participation outpacing male participation.
• Enrolment Growth Among SC, ST, and OBC Students
  • The report highlights significant increases in participation among students from marginalised communities:
• Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • Enrolment in 2023-24: 69.72 lakh
  • Increase since 2014-15: 51.4%
  • GER improved from 18.9 (2014-15) to 27.8 (2023-24)
• Scheduled Tribes (ST)
  • Enrolment in 2023-24: 28.83 lakh
  • Increase since 2014-15: 75.7%
  • GER improved from 13.5 (2014-15) to 22.8 (2023-24)
• Other Backward Classes (OBC)
  • Enrolment in 2023-24: 1.80 crore
  • Increase since 2014-15: 60.2% (from 1.13 crore)
  • These figures reflect the impact of affirmative action policies, expanded institutional access, and targeted government support for marginalised communities.
• STEM Education Growth
  • Enrolment Crosses One Crore
    • • STEM enrolment in 2023-24: 1.02 crore, the first time it has crossed the one-crore mark.
      • STEM enrolment in 2014-15: 91.5 lakh.
      • Reflects growing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines.
  • Rising Women’s Share in STEM
    • • Women’s share in STEM enrolment: 44% in 2023-24
      • Women’s share in STEM enrolment in 2014-15: 38.4%
      • This represents a significant improvement in gender inclusivity in STEM fields, though further growth is needed to achieve full parity.
• Faculty Strength Increases
• • Total faculty in 2023-24: 17.32 lakh
  • Female faculty in 2023-24: 7.78 lakh
  • Female faculty in 2014-15: 5.69 lakh
  • Rising faculty strength is important for maintaining favourable student-teacher ratios and ensuring quality education.

Significance and Implications

• For Access and Inclusivity
  • The rising GER reflects improved access to higher education across the country.
  • Growth in enrolment among SC, ST, and OBC students demonstrates progress in social justice and equity.
  • Increased women’s participation reinforces India’s commitment to gender equity in education.
• For Economic Development
  • STEM growth aligns with India’s ambitions in technology, innovation, and industrial development.
  • A more educated workforce supports the country’s economic transformation.
  • Higher women’s participation in STEM contributes to a diverse talent pool for emerging sectors.
• For Policy Implementation
  • The findings align with the NEP 2020 targets of achieving a GER of 50% by 2035.
  • Continued growth requires sustained investment in institutions, faculty, and infrastructure.
  • Regional disparities and quality concerns remain areas requiring attention.

Challenges Ahead

• Quality Concerns
  • Access has grown faster than quality improvements in many institutions.
  • Concerns persist about learning outcomes and the employability of graduates.
  • Faculty shortages and infrastructure gaps in many regions.
• Regional Disparities
  • Uneven distribution of quality institutions across states.
  • Rural-urban divide in access to premier institutions.
  • Concentration of top institutions in metropolitan areas.
• NEP 2020 Targets
  • India needs to raise GER to 50% by 2035, requiring sustained expansion.
  • Institutional capacity, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, needs strengthening.
  • Balancing expansion with quality assurance remains a challenge.
• Employability
  • Concerns about the skill gap between higher education output and industry needs.
  • Need for industry-academia partnerships to enhance relevance.
  • Vocational and skill-based education requires greater integration.

Source: TH | India Today