📚 PIB Notes on data for PAPER II | India’s Higher Education Sector
A decade of growth, access & inclusion | AISHE
India’s higher education ecosystem has expanded significantly over the last decade, supporting NEP 2020’s vision of inclusive, multidisciplinary and quality education and SDG-4.
🏫 Institutional growth (2014-15 → 2023-24)
Universities: 760 → 1,289 (+69.6%)
Colleges: 38,498 → 48,246 (+25.3%)
Standalone institutions: 12,276 → 15,221 (~24%)
👨🎓 Enrolment & GER
Total enrolment: 3.42 cr → 4.50 cr (+31.5%)
GER: 23.7% → 30%
NEP target: 50% GER by 2035
Biggest growth: Integrated courses +301.36%, PhD +192.89%; PG +50.15%, Diploma +32.22%, UG +27.27%.
👩 Women & social inclusion
Female enrolment: 1.57 cr → 2.24 cr (+42.2%)
Female GER: 22.9% → 31.2%, above male GER (28.9%) for 7th consecutive year.
GPI: 0.92 → 1.08; SC: 0.91 → 1.11, ST: 0.81 → 1.08.
SC enrolment share: 13.44% → 15.5%; ST: 4.8% → 6.4%; OBC: 32.8% → 40.1%.
♿ PwBD | STEM | Globalisation
PwBD enrolment: 64,298 → 88,816 (+38.1%) (2014-15 to 2022-23).
STEM enrolment: 91.5 lakh → 1.02 cr (+11.5%).
Foreign students: 42,293 → 58,134 (+37.5%).
👩🏫 Faculty & infrastructure
Teachers: 14.73 lakh → 17.32 lakh (+17.6%); female teachers grew 36.7%.
Female share of teachers: 44.9% (2023-24).
Libraries: 98% of universities, colleges & standalone institutions.
Laboratories: 89% universities, 85% colleges, 94% standalone institutions.
🎯 UPSC/CAPF takeaway:
The data reflects expansion, greater female participation and social inclusion, while gaps remain in GER, PwBD access and quality. Higher education is therefore crucial for human capital, inclusive growth and Viksit Bharat.
🔑 Remember: AISHE • NEP 2020 • GER 30% • 50% by 2035 • GPI 1.08 • STEM • Inclusion
3August 30, 2026 1.5K 7
