1: Introduction and Survey Overview

- The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for the academic year 2021-22 was conducted by the Ministry of Education.

- The survey indicates a noteworthy escalation in higher education enrollment, which increased from 4.14 crore (2020-21) to 4.33 crore (2021-22).

2: Why AISHE 2021-22 is in the News

- The survey portrays an impressive growth in India's higher education sector, with an enrollment rise of approximately 19 lakh compared to the previous year.

- It points towards the growing emphasis and participation in higher education in India.

3: Insights from AISHE 2021-22: Enrollment Increase

- The total female enrollment has seen an upward trend, increasing from 2.01 crore in 2020-21 to 2.07 crore in 2021-22.

- This demonstrates substantial progress in promoting gender equity in higher education in India.

4: A Closer Look at PhD Enrollment

- An encouraging rise has been observed in female enrollment in PhD, doubling from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15 to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22.

- This reflects an increasing trend of women participation in advanced research fields, contributing to the nation's intellectual potential.

5: Analysis of Science Stream Enrollment

- The Science stream has registered a total enrollment of 57.2 lakh students, with female students (29.8 lakh) surpassing the number of male students (27.4 lakh).

- This data suggests a shift in stereotypical gender roles in the field of science, promoting diversity in the scientific community

6: Increase among Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students

- The enrollment of ST students has registered a substantial growth of 65.2%, leaping to 27.1 lakh for 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15.

- This growth underlines the effectiveness of government policies directed towards ensuring equal opportunities in higher education for Scheduled Tribes.

7: Student Enrollment in North-East States

- The total student enrollment in North-East states was reported as 12.02 lakh for 2021-22, wherein females (6.07 lakh) outnumbered males (5.95 lakh).

- This indicates the successful implementation of education policies in these regions, ensuring higher participation of both gender in education.

8: Conclusion

- The AISHE 2021-22 showcases significant strides made by India in the field of higher education.

- Several key areas such as increasing female enrollment, participation of marginalised sections, and gender diversity in science stream, have seen positive growth.

- The continued emphasis on higher education and inclusive policies can help the country in leveraging its demographic dividend and becoming a knowledge-led economy.