PIB TrackerHigher-education enrolment tops 4.5 crore and GER hits 30, the AISHE 2022-24 reports show
The Education Ministry released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2022-23 and 2023-24: enrolment rose to 4.50 crore, the Gross Enrolment Ratio reached 30, the gender parity index stayed above 1, and SC/ST enrolment and female STEM participation climbed.
What happened
- The Education Ministry released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2022-23 and 2023-24 — the primary source of official higher-education statistics.
- Total enrolment rose to 4.50 crore in 2023-24, up 31.5% since 2014-15; female enrolment rose 42.2% to 2.24 crore.
- The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) reached 30 (from 23.7 in 2014-15); female GER hit 31.2.
- The Gender Parity Index stood at 1.08 — above 1.0 for seven consecutive years; SC GER rose to 27.8 and ST GER to 22.8.
- STEM enrolment reached 1.02 crore, with the female share up to 44%; HEI participation in the survey topped 90%.
For Prelims
- AISHE: The All India Survey on Higher Education by the Ministry of Education — annual official data on enrolment, faculty, infrastructure and results of HEIs.
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Enrolment as a share of the 18–23 age group; the NEP 2020 targets a GER of 50% by 2035 (now 30).
- Gender Parity Index (GPI): The ratio of female to male GER; a GPI above 1 means proportionally more women are enrolled — India's is 1.08.
- STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — female share rose to 44%, relevant to the 'women in science' push.
- NEP 2020 link: AISHE tracks progress on the National Education Policy's access, equity and quality goals; education is on the Concurrent List.
- Don't confuse: AISHE covers higher education; UDISE+ covers school education — different surveys.
For UPSC: Use AISHE for the state of higher education — rising GER (toward NEP's 50%), a GPI above 1, and closing SC/ST/gender gaps, alongside persisting quality and employability concerns. Strong data for essays and GS2 on education access and equity; pair the female-STEM rise with women-in-science arguments.
What it is NOT: This is an enrolment/access survey, not a quality or learning-outcome ranking; higher GER does not by itself mean better quality or employability. GER is computed on the 2011 population projection, and the figures are for 2022-23 and 2023-24, not the current year.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS2.13 · GS2.15 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Widening and equalising access to higher education — rising enrolment, gender parity and closing caste gaps toward NEP 2020 goals.
Substantiation (data)
AISHE 2023-24: enrolment 4.50 crore (up 31.5% since 2014-15); GER 30; GPI 1.08 (above 1 for seven years); SC GER 27.8, ST GER 22.8; STEM enrolment 1.02 crore, female share 44%.
Exemplification
Female enrolment up 42.2%; ST enrolment up 75.7%; rising female STEM participation as evidence of widening inclusion.
Problematisation
Access gains outpace quality, employability and faculty adequacy; regional and rural-urban disparities and the distance to NEP's 50% GER remain.
Way-forward
Convert access into quality and skills — faculty, research, industry linkage and equity-focused support — to meet NEP 2020's GER and outcome goals.
Position
Government stance: data-driven expansion of inclusive, equitable higher education toward a 50% GER by 2035.
Deploys into: Issues relating to development and management of the education sector (GS2.13 — higher education, GER, equity) · governance and data-driven policy (GS2.15) · NEP 2020's access/equity/quality goals, the gender parity index, and women in STEM.
Ministry of Education · 2026-07-08 · PRID 2282525 · PIB source ↗