SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: The Union Ministry of Education released the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24, highlighting continued growth in enrolment, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), gender parity, and social inclusion in India's higher education sector.

About the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

• It is an annual survey launched by the Ministry of Education in 2010–11 to collect comprehensive institution-level data on India's higher education sector, serving as the primary source of official statistics for policy formulation, planning and monitoring. 

• Data is collected through a web-based Data Capture Format (DCF) developed by the Department of Higher Education and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), covering student enrolment, faculty and staff, infrastructure, examination results, research and institutional profile. 

• Institutions voluntarily upload self-reported data, which is validated and scrutinised by the Ministry before publication. 

• AISHE also generates key indicators such as the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), Gender Parity Index (GPI) and Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR), and supports the implementation and monitoring of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Key Findings of AISHE 2023-24

• Institutional Coverage: A total of 59,553 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participated out of 64,756 registered institutions, recording a participation rate of around 92%. 

• These included 1,278 universities, 46,468 colleges and 11,787 standalone institutions. 

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) increased to 30.0 in 2023-24 from 29.5 in 2022-23 and 23.7 in 2014-15. 

• Female GER reached 31.2, remaining higher than male GER for the seventh consecutive year, while GER for SCs (27.8) and STs (22.8) also improved. 

• Gender Parity: The Gender Parity Index (GPI) stood at 1.08 and has remained above 1.0 since 2017-18, indicating higher female participation than males in higher education. 

• Student Enrolment: Total student enrolment reached a record 4.50 crore, an increase of 31.5% since 2014-15. 

• Female enrolment rose to 2.24 crore (up 42.2%), while Undergraduate programmes accounted for 76.8% of enrolment, followed by Postgraduate programmes (12.9%). 

• Social Inclusion: Enrolment of disadvantaged groups increased to 69.72 lakh (SC), 28.83 lakh (ST) and 1.80 crore (OBC). 

• Minority enrolment reached 33.3 lakh, female minority enrolment increased by 62.9% since 2014-15, and the North-East recorded 13.2 lakh enrolments, with female enrolment exceeding male enrolment. 

• STEM Education: STEM enrolment increased to 1.02 crore, accounting for 22.5% of total enrolment. 

• Women constituted 44% of STEM students, up from 38.4% in 2014-15. 

• Faculty and Teaching Workforce: Total faculty strength increased to 17.32 lakh, with women accounting for 44.9% of faculty members. 

• Female faculty rose from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 to 7.78 lakh in 2023-24, while the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) stood at 22 in regular mode and 19 in universities and constituent units. 

• Institutional Profile: India has 1,289 registered universities and 48,246 registered colleges, including 18 women's universities and 19 open universities. 

• Around 70% of colleges are private unaided. 

• Foreign Students: India hosted 58,134 foreign students from 173 countries. 

• The top source countries were Nepal, UAE, the United States, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. 

• Out-turn (Graduates): Total pass-outs exceeded 1.1 crore. 

• The highest undergraduate out-turn was in B.A., B.Sc., B.Com. and B.E./B.Tech., while the highest postgraduate out-turn was in M.A., M.Sc., MBA and M.Com.

Significance

• Expansion of Higher Education: Reflects the sustained growth and increasing reach of India's higher education system over the past decade. 

• NEP 2020 Implementation: Demonstrates progress towards the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goals of improving access, equity and quality in higher education. 

• Inclusive Growth: Rising GER and enrolment among women, SCs and STs indicate greater educational inclusion and social equity. 

• Gender Empowerment: Higher female participation and a Gender Parity Index (GPI) above 1 highlight improved gender representation in higher education. 

• STEM Workforce: Increasing STEM enrolment, particularly among women, strengthens India's future scientific, technological and innovation ecosystem. 

• Evidence-based Governance: AISHE provides reliable data for policy formulation, resource allocation, institutional planning and monitoring of the higher education sector. 

Sources :
PIB
DD India
Unity
DOHE
DOHE