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9 Jul 2026SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUES3 questions

4.5 Crore in Classrooms: What AISHE 2023-24 Says About Who Gets to Higher Education

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Article summary

The Union Ministry of Education's All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 records total higher-education enrolment at a record 4.50 crore, up from 4.46 crore in 2022-23 and 3.42 crore in 2014-15 — a decade rise of about 1.08 crore students (31.5%). The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) rose to 30, from 29.5 the previous year and 23.7 in 2014-15. Female enrolment reached 2.24 crore, with the female GER at 31.2 and a Gender Parity Index of 1.08, meaning women now participate at a higher rate than men. Enrolment among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has risen sharply since 2014-15 (SC up around 51%, ST up around 75%), and STEM enrolment crossed 1.02 crore. The survey covers 59,533 institutions with over 90% participation. For UPSC, AISHE is the definitive higher-education dataset, anchoring debates on access, equity, the NEP 2020 GER target of 50% by 2035, and the persistent question of quality and employability behind the enrolment numbers.

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recallTests whether you read the article and retained key facts.
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applicationTests whether you can apply the concept to a new scenario.
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analysisTests whether you can reason across multiple related facts.
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SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUESRecallEasy

Q1. With reference to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24, which one of the following statements is correct?

ATotal enrolment reached 4.50 crore and the Gross Enrolment Ratio rose to 30, against the National Education Policy 2020 target of 50 per cent by 2035.
BThe survey is conducted by the University Grants Commission and covers only central universities.
CThe Gross Enrolment Ratio reached 50 in 2023-24, meeting the NEP 2020 target eleven years early.
DFemale enrolment stood at 2.24 crore, giving a Gender Parity Index of 0.85.
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SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUESApplicationMedium

Q2. The Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education rose from 23.7 in 2014-15 to 30 in 2023-24, while the NEP 2020 target is 50 per cent by 2035. Which one of the following inferences is best supported?

AThe target has effectively been met, since the ratio has risen in every intervening year.
BA gain of roughly six percentage points over nine years implies that reaching 50 by 2035 requires the rate of increase to accelerate substantially, not merely to continue.
CThe ratio measures the proportion of enrolled students who complete their degree, so the target concerns completion rather than access.
DBecause enrolment in absolute numbers has risen to a record, the ratio must reach 50 automatically as the population grows.
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SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUESAnalysisHard

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding AISHE 2023-24: 1. Scheduled Caste enrolment has risen by roughly 51 per cent and Scheduled Tribe enrolment by roughly 75 per cent since 2014-15. 2. Enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics crossed 1.02 crore for the first time. 3. The female Gross Enrolment Ratio stood at 31.2, which is below the male figure, indicating that the gender gap in higher education has widened. Which of the statements given above are correct?

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
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