India's universities up 69.6% in a decade: AISHE 2023-24 survey
Synopsis
India now has 1,289 universities — up from 760 a decade ago — and female enrolment has crossed parity in both general and SC/ST categories. But with a GER of 30 per cent against a 2035 target of 50 per cent, the AISHE data is as much a progress report as a reminder of how far the system still needs to go.
Key Takeaways
Universities in India grew from 760 in 2014–15 to 1,289 in 2023–24 , a rise of 69.6 per cent .
Colleges increased by 25.3 per cent to 48,246 ; standalone institutions rose 24 per cent to 15,221 .
Total student enrolment reached 4.5 crore in 2023–24, up 31.5 per cent from 2014–15.
The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) hit 30 per cent in 2023–24, against a NEP 2020 target of 50 per cent by 2035 .
The Gender Parity Index rose to 1.08 , with SC GPI at 1.11 and ST GPI at 1.08 — all above parity.
STEM enrolments grew 11.5 per cent to 1.02 crore over the decade.
India's higher education network has expanded sharply over the past ten years, with the number of universities rising from 760 in 2014–15 to 1,289 in 2023–24 — a growth of 69.6 per cent, according to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) released on 30 August. The annual survey, conducted by the Ministry of Education, provides a comprehensive evidence base on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country.
Institutional Expansion Across the Board
The growth was not limited to universities alone. The number of colleges rose from 38,498 in 2014–15 to 48,246 in 2023–24, an increase of 25.3 per cent. Standalone institutions also grew from 12,276 to 15,221 over the same period, registering approximately 24 per cent growth. Together, these figures point to a broad-based widening of institutional capacity rather than expansion concentrated in any single tier.
Enrolment and Gross Enrolment Ratio
Student enrolment in higher education climbed 31.5 per cent, from 3.42 crore in 2014–15 to 4.5 crore in 2023–24. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) rose from 23.7 per cent in 2014–15 to 30 per cent in 2023–24, up from 29.5 per cent in 2022–23. While the trajectory is positive, the current GER remains well short of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 target of 50 per cent by 2035, indicating that significant ground still needs to be covered.
Gender Parity: A Notable Shift
One of the survey's more striking findings is the improvement in the Gender Parity Index (GPI), which rose from 0.92 in 2014–15 to 1.08 in 2023–24 — a level above parity, meaning female enrolment now exceeds male enrolment proportionally. The GPI for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category improved from 0.91 to 1.11, while the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category GPI rose from 0.81 to 1.08 over the decade. These figures suggest that government equity initiatives have had a measurable effect, particularly for historically underrepresented groups.
STEM Enrolments on the Rise
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) enrolments grew from 91.5 lakh in 2014–15 to 1.02 crore in 2023–24, an increase of roughly 11.5 per cent. According to the survey, this growth reflects expanding institutional capacity and sustained student interest, driven by digital technologies, innovation, research, and employment opportunities. This comes amid a broader national push to strengthen India's knowledge economy and meet the goals of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education.
What the Numbers Mean for NEP 2020
The AISHE data is being read as evidence of progress under the NEP 2020 framework, which envisions holistic, multidisciplinary learning and positions higher education as a cornerstone of India's transition to a knowledge-based economy. Notably, the improvement in GPI across general, SC, and ST categories signals a structural shift in who is accessing higher education — not just how many. Whether the pace of expansion can be sustained to meet the 2035 GER target of 50 per cent will be the defining question for the next phase of education policy.
Point of View
But the headline growth in university count can obscure quality gaps — adding institutions is not the same as adding capacity that meets labour market needs. The GER of 30 per cent, while improved, is still 20 percentage points short of the NEP 2020 target with just over a decade left. More telling is the gender parity data: female enrolment crossing parity in SC and ST categories is a structural shift that rarely gets the attention it deserves. The STEM growth figure of 11.5 per cent over ten years, however, looks modest against the scale of India's technology ambitions and the enrolment surge in other disciplines.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have universities in India grown in the last decade?
The number of universities in India rose from 760 in 2014–15 to 1,289 in 2023–24, a growth of 69.6 per cent, according to the AISHE 2023–24 survey released by the Ministry of Education.
What is India's current Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education?
India's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education reached 30 per cent in 2023–24, up from 23.7 per cent in 2014–15. The NEP 2020 targets a GER of 50 per cent by 2035.
What does the Gender Parity Index data show?
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) in higher education improved from 0.92 in 2014–15 to 1.08 in 2023–24, meaning female enrolment now proportionally exceeds male enrolment. The GPI for SC and ST categories also crossed parity, reaching 1.11 and 1.08 respectively.
How has STEM enrolment changed over the decade?
STEM enrolments in higher education grew from 91.5 lakh in 2014–15 to 1.02 crore in 2023–24, an increase of approximately 11.5 per cent, according to the AISHE survey.
What is the AISHE survey and who conducts it?
The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) is an annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Education that provides a comprehensive data picture of Higher Education Institutions across India, covering enrolment, institutions, faculty, and related indicators.
