The Economic Survey 2023-24, presented in Parliament by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlights a significant rise in higher education enrolment in India. According to the survey, total enrolment in higher education has surged to approximately 4.33 crore in the financial year 2022, up from 4.14 crore in FY21 and 3.42 crore in FY15. This represents a substantial 26.5% increase since FY15.
Key Highlights:
- Female Enrolment: The number of female students in higher education has grown to 2.07 crore in FY22, up from 1.57 crore in FY15, marking a 31.6% increase.
- Enrolment Equity: The rise in enrolment has been driven by underprivileged sections, including SC, ST, and OBC categories, with a notable increase in female enrolment across these groups.
- Higher Education Infrastructure: India now has 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges, and 12,002 standalone institutions. The country also boasts a significant teaching workforce, with 94.8 lakh teachers in school education and 15.98 lakh in higher education.
- Schooling and Skilling: The survey notes that India has 26.52 crore students in schools and over 11 crore learners in skilling institutions.
Upcoming Union Budget 2024:
The survey’s release precedes the Union Budget 2024 announcement scheduled for July 23. In her Interim Budget 2024 speech on February 9, Minister Sitharaman mentioned plans to establish more medical colleges and form a committee to oversee this initiative. She also highlighted plans for upgrading Anganwadi centers and noted that 1.4 crore youth have been trained under the Skill India Mission, with 3,000 new ITIs established and several new IITs and IIMs set up.
The continued expansion and focus on education and skilling reflect a commitment to improving enrolment equity and educational infrastructure in India.
