Executive Summary:
This document provides details on the establishment of Universities, Colleges, and Institutions across India, including Higher Education Institutions in Aspirational Districts or EWS Zones. It outlines steps taken to improve access to and quality of Higher Education, and addresses the conversion of affiliated colleges into Autonomous Degree-Granting Institutions under the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) framework, as envisioned by NEP 2020. The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PMUSHA) has been launched in June 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Establishment of Higher Education Institutions:**
* The number of Universities/University Level institutions increased from 993 in 2018-19 to 1213 in 2022-23 (provisional).
* The number of Colleges increased from 39931 in 2018-19 to 46624 in 2022-23 (provisional).
* The number of Standalone Institutions increased from 10725 in 2018-19 to 12543 in 2022-23 (provisional).
* 4502 Higher Education Institutions registered in 112 Aspirational Districts as per AISHE 2022-23 (provisional).
* **Government Initiatives for Enhanced Access:**
* Launched PMUSHA with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26, focusing on educationally underserved areas.
* Opening of more HEIs.
* Implementing Scholarship and Fellowship schemes.
* UGC allowing well-performing HEIs to offer Open Distance Learning/Online Programs.
* Providing flexibility and exit/re-entry options.
* Allowing two academic programs simultaneously.
* Permitting two admission cycles per year.
* Offering online courses through SWAYAM platform and permitting up to 40 credits in regular courses using SWAYAM.
* Conducting entrance exams (JEE, NEET, CUET) in 13 languages and providing textbooks in Indian languages.
* **Conversion to Autonomous Degree-Granting Institutions:**
* NEP 2020 envisions phasing out affiliated colleges over 15 years through graded autonomy.
* Each affiliating university will mentor affiliated colleges to achieve benchmarks in academics, governance, finance, and administration.
* All colleges shall attain accreditation benchmarks to become autonomous degree-granting colleges through national effort, mentoring, and governmental support.
Impact Analysis:
* **Students:**
* *Impact:* Increased access to higher education, financial assistance through scholarships, flexible learning options, and opportunities for multidisciplinary education.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources such as SWAYAM, explore simultaneous academic programs, and take advantage of flexible entry/exit options.
* **Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to expand and improve infrastructure, enhance academic quality, recruit faculty, and offer open distance learning programs (for eligible institutions). Affiliating universities will be responsible for mentoring colleges.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to prescribed norms and standards, apply for PMUSHA funding, prepare for NAAC and NIRF ranking, and mentor affiliated colleges (if applicable).
* **State Governments/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for identifying Focus Districts based on GER, gender parity, and other criteria; collaborate with the central government to uplift educational status.
* *Action Required:* Identify Focus Districts, support HEIs in their jurisdiction, and work towards improving the overall educational status of students.
* **Affiliated Colleges:**
* *Impact:* Need to improve capabilities in academic and curricular matters; teaching and assessment; governance reforms; financial robustness; and administrative efficiency, in order to achieve autonomy.
* *Action Required:* Seek mentoring from affiliating universities and governmental support to achieve required benchmarks for accreditation and autonomy.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for education in India, formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
All India Survey on Higher Education AISHE: An annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to collect data on various aspects of higher education institutions in the country.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan RUSA: A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at improving the quality of higher education in India. Now in its third phase as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PMUSHA).
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan PMUSHA: The current iteration (third phase) of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme, focused on improving higher education.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body established by the Indian government to coordinate, determine and maintain standards of higher education in India.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A comprehensive framework for education in India, aiming to transform the education system by 2040.
Higher Education Commission of India HECI: The proposed higher education regulator envisioned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Aspirational Districts: Districts identified by the Government of India as requiring focused attention to improve socio-economic indicators.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-169
ANSWERED ON-21/07/2025
ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS
169. Smt. Shambhavi:
Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:
Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:
Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:
Shri Rajesh Verma:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of number of Universities, Colleges and Standalone Institutions established across
the country during the last five years and the current year, State and year-wise;
(b) the details of number of Higher Education Institutions established in Aspirational Districts or
EWS Zones during the last five years and the current year with their Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER),
State, district and year-wise;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to access to Higher Education through establishment of new
Universities, Colleges and Institutes across the country;
(d) the details of the initiatives taken to ensure the increase in number of Institutions accompanied
by improvements in academic quality, infrastructure and faculty recruitment;
(e) whether the Government is planning to convert existing affiliated colleges into Autonomous
Degree-Granting Institutions under the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) framework;
and
(f) if so, the details thereof?ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a): The cumulative number of Universities, Colleges and Standalone Institutions registered with
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), as per AISHE 2018-19 and AISHE 2022-23
(provisional) in India are as follows:
Type of institution Number of Institutions
2018-19 2022-23 (provisional)
University/University Level 993 1213
Colleges 39931 46624
Standalone Institutions 10725 12543
Total 51649 60380
The State-wise number of Universities, Colleges and Standalone Institutions registered with AISHE
for years 2018-19 and 2022-23, is given at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques
(b): The number of Higher Education Institutions registered in AISHE as per AISHE 2022-
23(provisional) in 112 Aspirational Districts are 4502. The Aspirational District wise number of
Higher Education Institutions is at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques
The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of the States having Aspirational Districts as per AISHE for
years 2018-19 and 2022-23(provisional) is at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques
(c): The Ministry of Education has launched the third phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha
Abhiyan (RUSA) as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in June 2023 with
an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 to cater to needs of educationally
unserved/underserved areas. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State
government universities and colleges, so as to improve their quality by ensuring their conformity to
prescribed norms and standards. Under PM-USHA, priority is given to Focus Districts. The focus
districts are identified by the concerned States/ UTs based on various criteria including low Gross
Enrolment Ratio (GER), Gender Parity, population proportion and enrolment proportion for
females, transgenders, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes,
Aspirational/ Border Area/ Left Wing Extremism prone district, etc.
(d): Government has taken various measures to increase the access to Higher Education, which
inter-alia include: -i. Opening of more HEIs - The number of Universities/University level Institutions registered
under AISHE have increased to 1213 in 2022-23 (Provisional) from 760 in 2014-15.
Similarly, number of colleges registered under AISHE have increased to 46624 in 2022-23
(Provisional) from 38498 in 2014-15.
ii. Implementing various Scholarship and Fellowship schemes for providing financial
assistance to students, including for SC/ST/OBC and Minority students and underserved
regions.
iii. Allowing well performing HEIs (based on NAAC and NIRF ranking) by University Grants
Commission (UGC) to offer full Open Distance Learning/Online Programmes based on
quality parameters.
iv. Providing much-needed flexibility and appropriate Exit as well Re-entry options in the
Higher Education system, to facilitate students to choose their learning trajectory.
v. Allow pursuing two Academic Programmes simultaneously.
vi. Permitting HEIs for two admission cycles in an academic year.
vii. Providing anytime, anywhere learning opportunities for all learners through Study Webs for
Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform, which provides high
quality structured online courses in multiple disciplines.
viii. Permitting up to 40% credits in regular courses using SWAYAM platform.
ix. Conducting JEE, NEET (UG) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Exams in 13
languages, to facilitate students and making available Text Books in Indian Languages to
facilitate students, particularly from vernacular/rural background.
Setting up of higher education institutions is an ongoing process. Depending on the need,
educational institutions are opened from time to time. The Central Higher Education
Institutions/Universities are envisaged as pace setting institutions to provide academic leadership
to other institutions in the region.
Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the majority of Higher Education
Institutions are in the domain of the respective States/UTs. The States/UTs and Centre endeavor to
uplift the educational status of the students of the country.
(e) & (f): The NEP 2020 envisions that the new regulatory system envisioned by the Policy
will foster the overall culture of empowerment and autonomy to innovate, including by gradually
phasing out the system of ‘affiliated colleges’ over a period of fifteen years through a system of
graded autonomy, and to be carried out in a challenge mode. Each existing affiliating university
will be responsible for mentoring its affiliated colleges so that they can develop their capabilities
and achieve minimum benchmarks in academic and curricular matters; teaching and assessment;
governance reforms; financial robustness; and administrative efficiency. All colleges currently
affiliated to a university shall attain the required benchmarks over time to secure the prescribed
accreditation benchmarks and eventually become autonomous degree-granting colleges. This will
be achieved through a concerted national effort including suitable mentoring and governmental
support for the same.
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