38.5% rise in women's enrolment in higher education in a decade

India’s higher education sector has undergone a noticeable transformation over the past decade, reflecting the country’s commitment to inclusivity and global competitiveness.

Student enrolment in higher education institutions has risen by 30.5%, from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 to 4.46 crore in 2022-23.

Notably, female enrolment surged by 38.4%, increasing from 1.57 crore to 2.18 crore, marking a significant stride toward gender equality in education.

A key area of progress has been the participation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Female enrolment in STEM courses grew by 23%, rising from 35.14 lakh to 43.03 lakh.

This increase underscores ongoing efforts to encourage women to pursue careers in these traditionally male-dominated disciplines.

The expansion of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has further bolstered accessibility. HEIs grew by 13.8 percent, from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 58,643 in 2022-23.

Universities saw the highest growth, with a 59.6 percent increase, climbing from 760 to 1,213 institutions. This expansion has helped accommodate the rising demand for higher education across the country.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the parliament highlighted that 42 premier institutions, including IITs, IIMs, IIITs, IISERs, and Central Universities, were established over the past decade as part of efforts to create world-class educational hubs.