Females Again Outdo Males In Higher Education Enrolment: AISHE

New Delhi

As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the overall enrolment in higher education has increased to 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21 i.e an increase of 19 lakh students across India. In percentage terms, it is an increase of 4.58 percent.

However, compared to 3.42 crore in 2014-15, when the Modi Government came to power, this is an increase of 91 lakh students or 26.5% in percentage terms.

The female enrolment in higher education increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 (an increase of 50 lakh students, 32% increase). Notably, female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) continued to be more than male GER for the fifth consecutive year since 2017-18.

As per AISHE, there has been a “substantial” increase of 65.2% in enrolment of ST students in 2021-22 (27.1 lakh), compared to 2014-15 (16.41 lakh) and there has been a “remarkable” 80% increase in the enrolment of female ST students in 2021-22 (13.46 lakh), since 2014-15 when it was 7.47 lakh. The numbers stood at 12.21 lakh in 2020-21.

The GER of ST students has increased to 21.2 in 2021-22 from 13.5 in 2014-15. And the GER of female ST students has shown a more “spectacular increase” to 20.9 in 2021-22 from 12.2 in 2014-15, as per the survey.

There has also been an increase in the enrolment numbers as far as Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) students are concerned, with an increase of 44 percent for SCs and 50 percent for OBCs in 2021-22 as compared to 2014-15, according to AISHE.

The Ministry has been conducting AISHE since 2011, covering all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in the country registered with AISHE collecting detailed information on different parameters such as student enrolment, teachers, infrastructural information, etc.

The report covers 1,162 universities, 45,473 colleges, and 12,002 stand-alone higher education institutions across the country. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) saw a hike from 23.7 in 2014-15 and 27.3 in 2020-21, to 28.4 in 2021-22.

Following are the key highlights of the survey:

Student Enrolment

The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21. There has been an increase of around 91lakh in the enrolment from 3.42 crore (26.5%) in 2014-15.
The Female enrolment has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21. There has been an increase of around 50lakh in the female enrolment from 1.57 crore (32%) in 2014-15.
The enrolment of SC students is 66.23 lakh in 2021-22 as compared to 46.07lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 44%).
The enrolment of SC Female students has increased to 31.71 lakh in 2021-22 from 29.01 lakh in 2020-21 and 21.02 lakh in 2014-15. There has been an increase of 51% since 2014-15.
The enrolment of ST students has increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2%)
In case of ST Female students, enrolment has increased to 13.46 lakh in 2021-22 from 12.21 lakh in 2020-21 and 7.47 lakh in 2014-15. There has been significant increase of 80% since2014-15.
The enrolment of OBC students has also increased to 1.63 crore in 2021-22 from 1.13crore in 2014-15. There is a notable increase in OBC student enrolment since 2014-15 of around 50.8 lakh (45%).
In case of OBC Female students, enrolment has increased to 78.19 lakh in 2021-22 from 52.36 lakh in 2014-15. There is an overall increase of 49.3% in OBC female Student enrolment since 2014-15.
The Minority Student enrolment has increased to 30.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 21.8 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 38%). Female Minority Student enrolment has increased to 15.2 lakh in 2021-22 from 10.7 lakh in 2014-15 (42.3% increase).
The total Student Enrolment in North East States is 12.02 lakh in 2021-22 as compared to 9.36 lakh in 2014-15. The female enrolment in North East States is 6.07 lakh in 2021-22, higher than the male enrolment of 5.95 lakh.
GER has increased to 28.4 in 2021-22 from 23.7 in 2014-15 [as per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group]. Female GER has increased to 28.5 in 2021-22 from 22.9 in 2014-15.
The GER of SC students has increased to 25.9 in 2021-22 from 18.9 in 2014-15, while GER of Female SC students has increased to 26 in 2021-22 from 18.1 in 2014-15.
The GER of ST students has increased to 21.2 in 2021-22 from 13.5 in 2014-15. The GER of Female ST students has shown even more spectacular increase to 20.9 in 2021-22 from 12.2 in 2014-15.
Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER is 1.01 in 2021-22. GPI has continued to be above 1 since 2017-18i.e., female GER continues to be more than male GER for fifth consecutive year.
As per response in AISHE 2021-22, about 78.9% of the total students are enrolled in undergraduate level courses and 12.1% are enrolled in postgraduate level courses.
Among Disciplines at undergraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, enrolment is highest in Arts (34.2%), followed by science (14.8%), Commerce (13.3%) and Engineering & Technology (11.8%).
Among streams at postgraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, maximum students are enrolled in Social Science (21.1%) followed by science (14.7%).
Ph.D. enrolment has increased by 81.2% to 2.12 lakh in 2021-22 compared to 1.17 lakh in 2014-15.
Female Ph.D. enrolment has doubled to 0.99lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15. The annual increase for the period 2014-15 to 2021-22 in Female Ph.D. enrolment is 10.4%.
In 2021-22, out of the total enrolment in UG, PG, Ph.D. and M.Phil. levels, 57.2lakh students are enrolled in Science Stream, with female students (29.8 lakh) outnumbering male students (27.4 lakh).
Government Universities constituting 58.6% of total Universities, contribute 73.7% of total enrolment, Private Universities account for 26.3% of total enrolment.
The total number of students enrolled in STEM in UG, PG, M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels in 2021-22 is 98.5 lakhs compared to 94.7lakh in 2020-21.
The total number of Pass-Outs has increased to 1.07 Crore in 2021-22 as against 95.4 lakh in 2020-21.
Availability of different infrastructural facilities in university in 2021-22:
- Libraries (99%)
- Laboratories (88%)
- Computer centers (93%)
- Skill Development Centre (71%)
- Play Ground (91%)

Number of Institutions

The total number of Universities / University level institutions registered is 1,168, Colleges 45,473 and Standalone Institutions 12,002.
In all, 341 Universities/University level institutions have been established since 2014-15.
17 Universities (of which 14 are State Public Universities) and 4,470 Colleges are exclusively for women.

Faculty

The total number of faculty/teachers in 2021-22 are 15.98 lakh, of which about 56.6% are male and 43.4% are female.
Female faculty/teachers have increased to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 22% since 2014-15)
There is a marginal betterment of female per 100 male faculty from 75 in 2020-21 to 77 in 2021-22.

Update

CM Naidu for 100 pc reservation to STs in tribal areas

In line with his election promise last year, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that his government was exploring ways to provide 100 percent reservation in Government jobs to locals in all the tribal areas of the State. In a review meeting on Tribal Welfare, there were discussions on steps to be taken to restore the GO No 3 which was struck down in 2020 by the Supreme Court. The GO issued in 2000 provided that all posts of teachers in the schools in the Scheduled Areas of the state will be filled only by the local Scheduled Tribe candidates. Outlining the history of reservation for tribals, Naidu noted that a 1986 GO had initially provided 100% quota for local tribals in teacher posts in agency areas. Legal challenges later prompted the issuance of GO No. 3 in 2000, which accounted for increased women’s reservation, and facilitated the allocation of approximately 4,626 teacher posts to tribals in agency areas.