Latest report on the state of higher education has some heartening news. Enrollment of women in the higher education institutions has risen by 32 per cent since 2014. Total number of students enrolling in higher education has increased by 26.5 per cent during the same period, adding 4.33 crore to the number that stood in 2014.

Both, education and gender, are considered key development indicators for any economy expected to grow in a holistic manner. In India, education and health ministries rank among the infrastructure ministries – the infrastructure that is required for all round progress.

All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2022 released by Ministry of Education, the enrolment in higher education has increased to 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21 and 3.42 crore in 2014-15 (an increase of 91 lakh students which is 26.5 per cent since 2014-15)

Female enrolment in higher education has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 (an increase of 50 lakh students, 32 per cent increase). Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has increased to 28.4 in 2021-22 from 23.7 in 2014-15 and the female GER has increased to 28.5 in 2021-22 from 22.9 in 2014-15. Female GER continues to be more than male GER for fifth consecutive year since 2017-18.

There is a significant 44 per cent increase in enrolment of SC students since 2014-15 (66.23 lakh in 2021-22 from 46.07 lakh in 2014-15). There has been a notable increase of 51 per cent in enrolment of female SC Students in 2021-22 (31.71 lakh), compared to 2014-15(21.02 lakh).

There is also a substantial increase of 65.2 per cent in enrolment of ST students in 2021-22 (27.1 lakh), compared to 2014-15 (16.41 lakh). A remarkable 80 per cent increase in the enrolment of Female ST Students has been noticed in 2021-22 (13.46 lakh) since 2014-15 (7.47 lakh).  There is an increase of 45 per cent in OBC student enrolment in 2021-22 (1.63 crore) from 2014-15 (1.13 crore). A significant 49.3 per cent increase in female OBC Students in 2021-22 (78.19 lakh) has been noticed since 2014-15 (52.36 lakh).

At the doctoral level, total Ph.D. enrolment has increased 81.2 per cent in 2021-22 (2.13 lakh) from 2014-15 (1.17 lakh). Female Ph.D. enrolment has doubled in 2021-22(0.99 lakh) from 2014-15(0.48 lakh).

There has been a 42.3  per cent increase in female minority student enrolment since 2014-15 (15.2 lakh in 2021-22 from 10.7 lakh in 2014-15).

As many as 341 universities and university level institutions have been established since 2014-15 and female faculty and teachers have increased to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 1.25 lakh, i.e., 22 per cent since 2014-15).

Availability of different infrastructural facilities in university have also reached an optimal level: libraries (99 per cent), laboratories (88 per cent), computer centers (93 per cent), skill development centre (71 per cent), play ground (91 per cent)

The total number of universities and university level institutions registered is 1,168, colleges 45,473 and standalone Institutions 12,002. In all, 341 universities and university level institutions have been established since 2014-15. As many as 17 universities (of which 14 are state public universities) and 4,470 colleges are exclusively for women.

On the teaching front, the total number of faculty and teachers in 2021-22 are 15.98 lakh, of which about 56.6 per cent are male and 43.4 per cent are female. Female teachers have increased to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 22 per cent since 2014-15). However, there is a marginal betterment of female per 100 male faculty ratio from 75 in 2020-21 to 77 in 2021-22.

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