Key Statistics Unveiled in the Economic Survey 2025-26

The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in Parliament recently, paints an optimistic picture of India's higher education landscape, spotlighting significant expansions in both infrastructure and student participation. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which encompass universities, colleges, and specialized centers, have surged from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 70,018 as of June 2025. This growth reflects deliberate policy interventions aimed at democratizing access to quality education across urban and rural divides.

Student enrolment tells a similar success story. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 provisional data, total enrolment climbed to 4.46 crore from 4.33 crore the previous year, crossing the 44 million mark. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)—defined as the percentage of the 18-23 age group enrolled in higher education—has reached 29.5 percent nationally, inching closer to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 target of 50 percent by 2035.

These figures underscore India's commitment to building a knowledge economy, where universities and colleges play pivotal roles in fostering innovation and employability.

Expansion of Universities and Colleges Nationwide

India's higher education ecosystem is dominated by a diverse array of institutions, including central and state universities, deemed universities, and affiliated colleges. While exact breakdowns for 2025 are evolving through ongoing AISHE surveys, historical trends show steady proliferation. For instance, the number of universities has grown to over 1,100, with colleges numbering around 45,000 in recent years, contributing to the overall HEI count.

This expansion has been fueled by initiatives like the establishment of new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Today, there are 23 IITs and 21 IIMs, alongside 20 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), many established post-2014. International footprints, such as IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, signal India's global ambitions.

• Central Universities: Enhanced funding for research and multidisciplinary programs.
• State Universities: Focus on regional languages and local employability skills.
• Affiliated Colleges: Backbone for undergraduate education, serving millions in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Such diversification ensures that higher education is no longer an urban privilege, with rural colleges bridging access gaps.

Breakdown of Enrolment Trends by Gender and Discipline

A standout achievement is gender parity in higher education. Female GER has surpassed male GER, reaching approximately 30.2 percent in 2022-23 provisional data, compared to males at around 28 percent, yielding a Gender Parity Index (GPI) greater than 1. Female enrolment now constitutes nearly half of total students at 2.17 crore out of 4.46 crore.

Discipline-wise, engineering and technology lead with substantial shares, followed by arts, science, and commerce. Postgraduate and PhD enrolments are rising, supported by scholarships like Prime Minister's Research Fellows scheme.

These trends highlight how policies like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have translated into tangible college admissions.

NEP 2020 Reforms Catalyzing Enrolment Surge

The National Education Policy 2020 has been instrumental, introducing flexible entry-exit options adopted by 153 universities, biannual admissions, and the National Credit Framework (NCrF) by 170 institutions. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) now covers 2,660 HEIs, issuing over 4.6 crore IDs, enabling seamless credit transfers across colleges.

Step-by-step, these reforms work as follows: Students earn credits via courses, internships, or online modules; banks store them digitally; universities recognize and award degrees upon accumulation. This modularity attracts working professionals back to universities.

Vocational integration blends skills training with degrees, addressing employability concerns in India's job market.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Premier Institutions Leading the Charge

IITs, IIMs, and NITs exemplify excellence, with expanded seats and research funding. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) boosts R&D across 1,000+ universities and colleges, allocating billions for grants.

The Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme targets 275 institutions, including 175 engineering colleges, upgrading labs and faculty.

These hubs produce graduates ready for faculty positions and industry roles.

Challenges Amidst Growth: Quality and Infrastructure

Despite gains, the survey flags faculty shortages, with pupil-teacher ratios straining in many colleges. Research output lags global peers, and skill mismatches persist in sectors like healthcare and IT.

• Infrastructure deficits in non-metro colleges.
• Uneven learning outcomes across states.
• Brain drain: Thousands study abroad annually.

Solutions include 'Professor of Practice' roles for industry experts in universities and AICTE fellowships.

Internationalisation: Attracting Global Talent

UGC regulations allow twinning degrees with foreign universities, 100% FDI in HEIs, and 15 foreign campuses expected soon, including in GIFT City. Inbound students rose to 49,000 by 2020, though still low at 0.1% of total enrolment.

This positions Indian colleges as global players. For details, visit the official PIB release.

Regional Disparities and Inclusive Growth

Southern states like Tamil Nadu boast GER over 40%, while northeastern regions lag below 20%. Targeted scholarships and new universities aim to balance this.

Rural colleges, often affiliated to state universities, have seen enrolment double, thanks to digital platforms like SWAYAM offering free courses from IITs.

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Future Outlook: Towards 50% GER

Projections indicate sustained growth with NEP implementation. By 2035, universities could serve 6-7 crore students if trends hold.

Stakeholders—government, academia, industry—must collaborate on R&D and skilling. Aspiring professors can explore professor jobs amid rising demand.

Career Implications and Actionable Insights

Higher enrolment means more opportunities in academia. Job seekers should upskill via online certifications from recognized universities.

• Pursue PhDs for postdoc roles.
• Leverage ABC for flexible learning.
• Check Rate My Professor for insights.

Visit higher ed jobs, career advice, and university jobs on AcademicJobs.com. Post your vacancy at /recruitment.