India’s higher education sector has undergone remarkable growth over the last decade, with notable progress in access, quality, and inclusivity. Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, provided an overview of the sector’s advancements in a press conference in New Delhi, outlining crucial initiatives and achievements under the Ministry of Education.
Expansion of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
The number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has seen significant expansion, growing from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 58,643 in 2022-23, marking a 13.8% increase. Universities alone saw a remarkable 59.6% rise, from 760 to 1,213, while the number of colleges grew by 21.1%, from 38,498 to 46,624. Additionally, 42 new centrally funded institutions, including central universities, IITs, IIMs, IISERs, IISC, and IIITs, were established to meet the increasing demand for higher education.
Surge in Student Enrollment
Enrollment in higher education has also risen substantially, with a 30.5% increase from 3.42 crore students in 2014-15 to 4.46 crore in 2022-23. Female enrollment saw a 38.4% growth, from 1.57 crore to 2.18 crore. Furthermore, enrollment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs rose by 23%, from 35.14 lakh to 43.03 lakh.
Recruitment Boost in Higher Education
From May 2014 to October 2024, 52,482 candidates were recruited in higher education institutions, more than doubling the figure of 23,463 from the previous decade.
One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Initiative
The government approved the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative, aimed at providing access to over 13,000 e-journals from 30 international publishers for students, faculty, researchers, and scientists. This initiative, with a ₹6,000 crore budget, will span three years from 2025 to 2027, enhancing the digital learning experience for Indian institutions.
Promoting Research and Innovation
The government has also taken steps to promote research and innovation. Three Centers of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been established, focusing on health, sustainable cities, and agriculture, with a total financial outlay of ₹990 crore for 2023-28. Additionally, Research Parks have been set up to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, with plans to establish 13 more at IIT campuses across India.
Inclusivity Through Multilingual Education
To ensure inclusivity, national entrance exams such as JEE (Main), NEET (UG), and CUET (UG) are now conducted in 13 languages, including regional languages, to reach a broader pool of students.
Introduction of Academic Bank of Credit
Launched in 2021, the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system allows students to accumulate and transfer academic credits across institutions. Currently, 2,247 HEIs are registered, with over one crore student IDs mapped and more than two crore academic records stored.
SWAYAM and SWAYAM Plus: Enhancing Online Learning
The SWAYAM initiative, launched in 2017, provides free online courses. As of now, 3,800 courses have been developed, with 4.7 crore enrollments. The new SWAYAM Plus program, launched in 2024, aims to improve employability by offering 320 courses developed in partnership with 55 industry leaders.
SAMARTH Digitalization Initiative
The SAMARTH platform supports the digitization of higher education campuses. Over 12,000 HEIs have adopted the platform, benefiting 46 lakh students in the current semester.
SATHEE Platform: Free Coaching for Competitive Exams
In 2023, the SATHEE platform was launched in collaboration with IIT Kanpur to provide free coaching for competitive exams, including engineering, medical, and university entrance tests. The platform has already garnered 10.3 lakh registered users.
National Rankings and Global Recognition
India’s higher education institutions have also seen an increase in global recognition. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which started in 2016, has grown significantly, with 10,845 applications in 2024 compared to just 3,565 in 2016. Additionally, the number of ranked institutions has risen from 2,426 to 6,517. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, 46 Indian institutions were featured, up from 11 in 2015. IIT Bombay improved its global rank from 149th in 2024 to 118th in 2025.
Growing Engagement at National Book Fair
The National Book Fair has seen a dramatic increase in participation, with footfall rising from 4 lakh in 2014 to 19 lakh in 2024, reflecting the growing engagement with educational initiatives.
Success of Smart India Hackathon
The Smart India Hackathon, launched in 2017, has also witnessed significant growth. Participation has surged from 7,531 teams in 2017 to 49,892 teams in 2024, with the number of ideas submitted increasing from 7,500 to 57,000.
India’s higher education sector has made significant strides over the past decade, with robust growth in institutions, enrollment, digital platforms, and research initiatives. With continued investment and strategic policies, the country is well-positioned to further advance its educational landscape.
