Paper: GS – II, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector – Education, Issue: AISHE 2023-24: Mapping India’s Higher Education Transformation.
Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Education released the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022–23 and 2023–24 reports. The survey highlights steady improvements in enrolment, gender parity, and social inclusion, while providing crucial evidence for assessing the progress of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and shaping future higher education reforms.
Key Takeaways:
Key Findings:
Expansion of Higher Education:
- Higher education enrolment increased from 3.42 crore (2014–15) to 4.50 crore (2023–24), registering a 31.5% growth.
- The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) rose from 23.7 to 30.0, indicating wider access to higher education.
- However, the GER remains significantly below the NEP 2020 target of 50% by 2035, highlighting the need for continued expansion.
Gender Inclusion:
- The Gender Parity Index (GPI) reached 1.08, remaining above 1.0 for seven consecutive years, indicating higher female participation than male participation.
- Female enrolment grew by 42.2%, outpacing overall enrolment growth.
- Women’s share in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) increased to 44%, while female faculty now constitute 44.9% of the teaching workforce.
Social Inclusion:
- Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) enrolment grew by 51.4%, 75.7%, and 60.2% respectively with ST students recording the highest growth.
- Female enrolment within these communities grew faster than overall enrolment, reflecting greater inclusivity.
- These trends indicate the positive impact of reservation policies, scholarships, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), and other targeted interventions.
Significance:
- The findings demonstrate progress towards equitable access envisaged by the Kothari Commission (1964–66) and NEP 2020.
- AISHE enables evidence-based policymaking by identifying regional, gender, and social disparities.
- Improved enrolment strengthens India’s demographic dividend, enhances skilled human capital, and supports inclusive economic growth.
- The survey also contributes to monitoring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which seeks inclusive and equitable quality education.
Challenges and Way Forward:
- Increase public expenditure on education to 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as recommended by the Kothari Commission (1964–66) and reaffirmed by NEP 2020. Currently, the Centre and States together spend about 4.1% of GDP on education, leaving a significant funding gap for expanding quality higher education.
- Expand digital infrastructure, scholarships, institutional capacity, and faculty strength to achieve the NEP 2020 target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035.
- Improve data quality through stronger verification mechanisms and greater institutional accountability.
- Focus on improving quality of education, learning outcomes, employability, and research rather than enrolment alone.
- Strengthen multidisciplinary education, faculty development, and industry-academia collaboration to improve global competitiveness.
Conclusion:
The AISHE reports reflect India’s steady progress towards a more inclusive and accessible higher education system. Sustaining these gains will require balancing expansion with quality, equity, and institutional reforms so that higher education becomes a driver of innovation, employability, and national development.
Source: (PIB)
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