All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22: Key Highlights

The Ministry of Education earlier this week released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22, which showed an increase in total enrolment in higher education to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in the previous session. The survey also pointed out that the overall female enrolment has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21.

The report added that female PhD enrolment has doubled to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15. While the enrolment of ST students increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2 per cent), the enrolment of ST students has increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2 per cent), according to the report.

Here’s a look at highlights of the survey:

Student Enrolment

• The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21. There has been an increase of around 91 lakh in the enrolment from 3.42 crore (26.5%) in 2014-15.
• The female enrolment has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21. There has been an increase of around 50 lakh in the female enrolment from 1.57 crore (32%) in 2014-15.
• The enrolment of SC students is 66.23 lakh in 2021-22 as compared to 46.07 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 44 %).
• The enrolment of SC female students has increased to 31.71 lakh in 2021-22 from 29.01 lakh in 2020-21 and 21.02 lakh in 2014-15. There has been an increase of 51% since 2014-15.
• The enrolment of ST students has increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 65.2%).
• In case of ST female students, enrolment has increased to 13.46 lakh in 2021-22 from 12.21 lakh in 2020-21 and 7.47 lakh in 2014-15. There has been significant increase of 80% since 2014-15.
• The enrolment of OBC students has also increased to 1.63 crore in 2021-22 from 1.13 crore in 2014-15. There is a notable increase in OBC student enrolment since 2014-15 of around 50.8 lakh (45%).
• In case of OBC female students, enrolment has increased to 78.19 lakh in 2021-22 from 52.36 lakh in 2014-15. There is an overall increase of 49.3% in OBC female student enrolment since 2014-15.
• The minority student enrolment has increased to 30.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 21.8 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 38%). Female minority student enrolment has increased to 15.2 lakh in 2021-22 from 10.7 lakh in 2014-15 (42.3% increase).
• The total student enrolment in Northeast states is 12.02 lakh in 2021-22 as compared to 9.36 lakh in 2014-15. The female enrolment in Northeast states is 6.07 lakh in 2021-22, higher than the male enrolment of 5.95 lakh.
• GER has increased to 28.4 in 2021-22 from 23.7 in 2014-15 (as per 2011 population projections for 18-23 age group). Female GER has increased to 28.5 in 2021-22 from 22.9 in 2014-15.
• The GER of SC students has increased to 25.9 in 2021-22 from 18.9 in 2014-15, while GER of female SC students has increased to 26 in 2021-22 from 18.1 in 2014-15.
• The GER of ST students has increased to 21.2 in 2021-22 from 13.5 in 2014-15. The GER of female ST students has shown even more spectacular increase to 20.9 in 2021-22 from 12.2 in 2014-15.
• Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER is 1.01 in 2021-22. GPI has continued to be above 1 since 2017-18 i.e., female GER continues to be more than male GER for fifth consecutive year.
• As per response in AISHE 2021-22, about 78.9% of the total students are enrolled in undergraduate level courses and 12.1% are enrolled in postgraduate level courses.
• Among disciplines at undergraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, enrolment is highest in Arts (34.2%), followed by Science (14.8%), Commerce (13.3%) and Engineering & Technology (11.8%).
• Among streams at postgraduate level in AISHE 2021-22, maximum students are enrolled in Social Science (21.1%) followed by Science (14.7%).
• Ph.D. enrolment has increased by 81.2% to 2.12 lakh in 2021-22 compared to 1.17 lakh in 2014-15.
• Female Ph.D. enrolment has doubled to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22 from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15. The annual increase for the period 2014-15 to 2021-22 in female Ph.D. enrolment is 10.4%.
• In 2021-22, out of the total enrolment in UG, PG, Ph.D. and M.Phil. levels, 57.2 lakh students are enrolled in Science Stream, with female students (29.8 lakh) outnumbering male students (27.4 lakh).
• Government Universities constituting 58.6% of total Universities, contribute 73.7% of total enrolment, private Universities account for 26.3% of total enrolment.
• The total number of students enrolled in STEM in UG, PG, M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels in 2021-22 is 98.5 lakhs compared to 94.7 lakh in 2020-21.
• The total number of passouts has increased to 1.07 Crore in 2021-22 as against 95.4 lakh in 2020-21.

Availability of Infra Facilities Universities in 2021-22:

• Libraries (99%)
• Laboratories (88%)
• Computer Centres (93%)
• Skill Development Centre (71%)
• Playground (91%)

Number of Institutions

• The total number of Universities/University-level institutions registered is 1,168, colleges is 45,473 and standalone institutions is 12,002.
• In all, 341 Universities/University-level institutions have been established since 2014-15.
• Seventeen Universities (of which 14 are State Public Universities) and 4,470 colleges are exclusively for women.

Faculty Data

• The total number of faculty/teachers in 2021-22 was 15.98 lakh, of whom about 56.6% were male and 43.4% were female.
• Female faculty/teachers have increased to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 22% since 2014-15)
• There is a marginal betterment of female per 100 male faculty from 75 in 2020-21 to 77 in 2021-22.

The Ministry of Education has been conducting the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011, covering all higher educational institutions located in Indian Territory and imparting higher education in the country.

The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teachers’ data, infrastructural information, financial information etc.