Latest Statistics on Indian Higher Education

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University Grants Commission (UGC) released a report “Higher education in India at a glance” summarizing key datapoints of relevance for policymakers and administrators. Here are three charts from the report:
1. Massive expansion in supply of colleges: 
India added nearly 20,000 colleges in a decade (increased from 12,806 in 2000-01 to 33,023 in 2010-11) which translate into a growth of more than 150%. Number of degree granting universities more than doubled from 256 to 564, primarily due to deemed-universities and private universities. India has a complex affiliation system where a universities can have hundreds of public and private teaching colleges affiliated to it.

2. Lesser growth in student enrollment:
Although number of students enrolled in higher education doubled from nearly 8.4 million to 17 million in a decade, it grew a slower pace than number of colleges which grew 2.5 times in the same period, creating a paradoxical situation of excess capacity in a country where gross enrollment ratio is less than 20%.

 

3. Three-year degree and engineering:
Student continue to be sorted into two tiers–engineering and three-year degrees of Arts, Science and Commerce. Every sixth student in India is enrolled in engineering/technology program and more than 2/3rd of Indian students are enrolled in three-year undergraduate degrees.

Related readings:
Growth Statistics on Engineering and Management Institutions in India
Indian University Admissions: The Crisis of Confidence in Quality
Engineering Pipeline: Disproportionate and Disconnected

Dr. Rahul Choudaha

5 Comments

  1. "Although number of students enrolled in higher education doubled from nearly 8.4 million to 17 million in a decade, it grew a slower pace than number of colleges which grew 2.5 times in the same period, creating a paradoxical situation of excess capacity in a country where gross enrollment ratio is less than 20%."

    – Comparing growth in students with growth in colleges is not correct. What should be looked & commented at is the growth of seats in these colleges vs the growth of students.

  2. Please go by layman terms and if we take Indian 0-14 Years data of approx 33 Crore persons (see Indian Demographic figures) and divide it by 15 as average ; every year after age of 17 approx 2 Crore students should go for Higher Education. If we even half this figure to One Crore – which should be our target for better populace and governace – do we have enough seats or capacity for same?? Please note time to add capacity and seats is now as in future the cost of putting Universities or Infrastructure development into Non-Profit Ventures would actually slow down and not increase!!

  3. Even though there is a massive increase in the colleges, more and more students are going overseas for education. Students are mainly attracted by the various opportunities they get in a different country and an international degree from a top university. That might also be a reason for lesser growth in student enrollments.

  4. Hi Dr. Choudaha,

    We have seen political slogans lately that blame the reservation system in education for the massive brain drain in India. This is under the premise that when the well qualified students can't get into Indian universities because the available spots are taken up by "undeserving" members of SC, ST, and OBC communities, then the "deserving" student is forced to study abroad. However, from the data, it looks like there is an excess of capacity and anyone who wants to can get an education, and the students going overseas may be making those based on other criteria. For that matter, if there is so much capacity, then it would seem that the reservation system is unnecessary except in the most sought after universities.

    I'd be interested in your thoughts on how the reservation system and brain drain interact.

    Regards,
    Manju

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