Quantity of education is growing in India — but with asymmetries

The Indian higher education system is experiencing significant growth, as evidenced by the 2026 All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE). Total student enrolment has reached 4.50 crore, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) increasing to 30.0 per cent from 29.5 per cent in the previous survey. Female GER has also risen to 31.2 per cent, narrowing the gender gap in higher education.

STEM disciplines have seen a surge in participation, with over 1.02 crore students enrolled, and women comprising nearly 44 per cent of STEM enrolment. However, while the GER has increased, India still lags behind many developed and emerging economies in enrolment rates. Despite these achievements, the AISHE report highlights several structural asymmetries in the higher education system, including the dominance of private institutions, which now account for 83 per cent of all colleges, and the corresponding enrolment of 71 per cent of all college students.

This shift towards private provisioning raises concerns about affordability, regional disparities, faculty quality, and regulatory oversight, which must be addressed to ensure equitable access to higher education.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.