More takers for commerce than arts, DCE data shows

 Even though arts, as a choice in undergraduate studies, saw highest number of enrolments in government degree colleges in the academic year 2013-14, its percentage of growth was lower than commerce’s. 

With admissions for degree courses going on at present, it is most likely that the trend will continue, experts say.

The number of students who enrolled for BA in 2012-13 was 1.25 lakh as against 1.45 lakh in 2013-14, with an increase of 20,000 students. 

Likewise, 84,000 students opted for BCom in 2012-13, while it was 1.08 lakh in 2013-14, a jump of 24,000 students. 

The increase in science stream, when compared with BA and BCom courses, was less. 

In 2012-13 and 2013-14, students taking up science grew from 18,000 to 25,000, an increase of 7,000 students. The data provided by the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) shows that enrolments in the degree colleges have increased over the years.

In 2007-08, the number of students who enrolled in government degree colleges was 1.25 lakh. By 2010-11, this increased to around 1.66 lakh.

In 2011-12, it went up to 2.21 lakh and to 2.30 lakh and 2.88 lakh in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively.    
   DCE director B L Bhagyalakshmi said that while commerce might surpass arts as a dominant course in the coming years, there is an increase in the number of takers for science.

“The trends of the previous years point to the emergence of commerce over other subjects. However, it is surprising to see the interest in science shown by a sizeable number of students. For the past two years, we are seeing re-emergence of science, even though on a small scale. We hope this will pick up further,” she said.