Higher education enrolment increased by 19 lakh in 2021-22 from previous session: Govt survey

New Delhi: The total enrolment in higher education increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in the previous session, with female enrolments in the science stream outnumbering male enrolments, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22.

The survey released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday night pointed out that the overall female enrolment has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21.

"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 91 lakh in the enrolment from 3.42 crore in 2014-15," the AISHE report said.

"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 50 lakh in the female enrolment from 1.57 crore (32 per cent) in 2014-15," it said.

The report also said that female PhD enrolment has doubled to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15.

The annual increase in female PhD enrolment for the period 2014-15 to 2021-22 is 10.4 per cent, the report said.

"In 2021-22, out of the total enrolment at undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D. and M.Phil levels, 57.2 lakh students are enrolled in the science stream, with female students (29.8 lakh) outnumbering male students (27.4 lakh)," the report added.

While the enrolment of ST students increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2 per cent), the enrolment of ST students has increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2 per cent), according to the report.

"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," it said.

The Ministry of Education has been conducting the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011, covering all higher educational institutions located in Indian Territory and imparting higher education in the country.

The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teachers' data, infrastructural information, financial information etc.

The survey reported an increase of 45 per cent in OBC student enrolment in 2021-22 (1.63 crore) from 2014-15 (1.13 crore).

"As per response in AISHE 2021-22, about 78.9 per cent of the total students are enrolled in undergraduate level courses and 12.1 per cent are enrolled in postgraduate level courses. Among disciplines at undergraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, enrolment is highest in Arts (34.2 per cent), followed by science (14.8 per cent), Commerce (13.3 per cent) and Engineering & Technology (11.8 per cent)," the report said.

"Among streams at postgraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, maximum students are enrolled in Social Science (21.1 per cent) followed by science (14.7 per cent). Ph.D enrolment has increased by 81.2 per cent to 2.12 lakh in 2021-22 compared to 1.17 lakh in 2014-15," it added.

The survey revealed that 341 universities and university-level institutions have been established since 2014-15.

"Female faculty/teachers have increased to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 1.25 lakh, i.e., 22 per cent since 2014-15)," it said.

"The Minority Student enrolment has increased to 30.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 21.8 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 38 per cent). Female Minority Student enrolment has increased to 15.2 lakh in 2021-22 from 10.7 lakh in 2014-15 (42.3 per cent increase)," the survey added.