9 July 2026·The Hindu

Over 42% rise in female enrolment in higher education since 2014: report

India's higher education enrolment rose to 4.5 crore in 2023-24, a 31.5% rise over 3.42 crore in 2014-15 [S1].
Female enrolment grew from 1.57 crore (2014-15) to 2.24 crore (2023-24), a 42.2% increase, outpacing overall growth [S1].
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) has stayed above 1.0 for seven consecutive years, standing at 1.08 in 2023-24 — female GER now exceeds male GER [S1][S3].
Tests UPSC's favourite theme: social inclusion metrics (gender, SC/ST) in education, linked to GS-I (social empowerment) and GS-II (education policy/NEP 2020).

2. Why in the News

Ministry of Education released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24, reported 9 July 2026, showing sustained female enrolment growth and improved Gender Parity Index [S1].

AISHE was launched by the Ministry of Education (then MHRD) as an annual/biennial census-style survey of higher education institutions in India.
Institutional coverage has grown to 59,533 higher education institutions for the 2023-24 round, with over 90% institutional participation rate [S1].
Data collection method: self-reported by institutions via a web-based portal using a standardised Data Capture Format (DCF); Education Ministry runs validation/scrutiny checks, but primary data accuracy remains the institution's responsibility [S1].
Prior rounds referenced for trend comparison: AISHE 2021-22 (released January 2024) showed female enrolment at 2.07 crore with GPI 1.01, already above 1.0 since 2017-18 [S2].

Metric	2014-15	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Total enrolment	3.42 crore	~4.33 crore	—	4.5 crore [S1]
Female enrolment	1.57 crore	2.07 crore [S2]	2.18 crore	2.24 crore [S1]
GPI	—	1.01 [S2]	—	1.08 [S1][S3]
Overall GER (18-23 yrs)	—	—	—	30 [S1]
Female GER	—	—	—	31.2 [S1]
SC enrolment	46.07 lakh	—	—	69.72 lakh (+51.4%) [S3]
ST enrolment	16.41 lakh	—	—	28.83 lakh (+75.7%) [S3]
SC GER	18.9	—	—	27.8 [S3]

Implementing/publishing body: Ministry of Education, Government of India [S1].
Survey acronym: AISHE — All India Survey on Higher Education.

Social

Rising female GER (31.2) above the national average (30) signals narrowing gender gaps in tertiary education access [S1].
SC (+51.4%) and ST (+75.7%) enrolment growth indicates affirmative-action and scholarship schemes (e.g., Post-Matric Scholarships) are yielding measurable gains [S3].

Economic

Higher female tertiary enrolment feeds into female labour force participation and human capital formation, relevant to India's demographic dividend debate.

Administrative

Data self-reported by 59,533 institutions raises data-quality and verification concerns, since Ministry validation is only a check, not primary assurance [S1].
High institutional participation (>90%) improves survey reliability compared to earlier rounds.

Governance/Ethical

Voluntary, portal-based self-reporting model raises transparency questions on possible over/under-reporting by institutions competing for rankings/funding.

January 2024: AISHE 2021-22 released, showing GPI at 1.01 and female enrolment at 2.07 crore [S2].
9 July 2026: Ministry of Education releases combined AISHE 2022-23 and 2023-24 reports, showing total enrolment at 4.5 crore, female enrolment at 2.24 crore, GPI at 1.08 [S1].

AISHE stands for All India Survey on Higher Education, published by the Ministry of Education [S1].
Total higher education enrolment reached 4.5 crore in 2023-24 [S1].
This is a 31.5% rise from 3.42 crore in 2014-15 [S1].
Female enrolment rose 42.2%, from 1.57 crore (2014-15) to 2.24 crore (2023-24) [S1].
Gender Parity Index (GPI) = 1.08 in 2023-24 [S1].
GPI has remained above 1.0 for seven consecutive years [S1].
India's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), for the 18-23 age group, reached 30 in 2023-24 [S1].
Female GER = 31.2, higher than the national baseline of 30 [S1].
AISHE 2023-24 data drawn from 59,533 higher education institutions [S1].
Institutional participation rate exceeded 90% [S1].
SC enrolment rose from 46.07 lakh (2014-15) to 69.72 lakh (2023-24), up 51.4% [S3].
ST enrolment rose from 16.41 lakh to 28.83 lakh, up 75.7% — the highest rise among the groups tracked [S3].
SC GER rose from 18.9 to 27.8 [S3].
Earlier round: AISHE 2021-22 (released January 2024) recorded female enrolment of 2.07 crore and GPI of 1.01 [S2].

GS-I: Social empowerment, role of women, population and associated issues.
GS-II: Government policies for development of education sector; issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services related to Education.
Possible question stems: 1. "Rising Gender Parity Index in Indian higher education reflects policy success but masks regional and disciplinary disparities. Discuss." (GS-II) 2. "Examine the factors behind the disproportionate rise in female and ST enrolment in Indian higher education since 2014-15." (GS-I) 3. "Critically evaluate the reliability of self-reported institutional data in surveys like AISHE for policy-making." (GS-II, Governance)

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — driver of GER targets (target: 50% GER by 2035).
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and Gender Parity Index (GPI) methodology — core statistical concepts tested in Prelims.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao / scholarship schemes (Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST) — policy linkage to enrolment gains.
Skill India / STEM adoption trends — AISHE also tracks STEM enrolment, mentioned in the source article.
Economic Survey chapters on education/human capital — cross-reference enrolment data.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) — Centrally Sponsored Scheme for higher education expansion.
UDISE+ (school-level survey) — comparator survey for school education feeding into higher-ed pipeline.

Do not confuse AISHE (higher education, Ministry of Education) with UDISE+ (school education survey).
GPI above 1 means female participation exceeds male, not equality at exactly 1 — a common misreading.
Do not conflate GER (18-23 age cohort ratio) with raw enrolment numbers (crore figures) — they are different metrics.
SC/ST enrolment growth rates (51.4%/75.7%) are higher than female enrolment growth (42.2%) — avoid assuming female growth is the highest category.
AISHE data is self-reported by institutions, not an independent Ministry audit — relevant for governance/ethics questions on data reliability.

[S1] Over 42% rise in female enrolment in higher education since 2014: report — The Hindu — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-07-09/th_chennai/articleG6DG7NVLV-15315431.ece — (tier: 4)
[S2] Ministry of Education releases All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2022 — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1999713 — (tier: 1)
[S3] India's Higher Education Enrolment Reaches 4.5 Crore; AISHE 2023-24 Report Shows Record Growth In GER & Female Participation — Free Press Journal — https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/indias-higher-education-enrolment-reaches-45-crore-aishe-2023-24-report-shows-record-growth-in-ger-female-participation — (tier: 4)