Parliament Question: Universities in Rural Areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 332 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Universities in Rural Areas *332. Shri Shafi Parambil: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the total number of private and public sector universities located in rural areas of the country; (b) the number of universities located in rural areas of the country that have been closed during the last five years, year-wise; (c) the student enrolment rate in universities located in rural areas of the country during the last five years, year-wise; (d) whether it is a fact that rural universities are struggling to survive due to lack of student enrolments; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN) (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 332 ANSWERED ON 16TH MARCH, 2026 REGARDING UNIVERSITIES IN RURAL AREAS ASKED BY HON’BLE MP SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL: (a): As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 (provisional), there are 545 Universities/University level Institutions in rural areas of the country of which 245 are Government and 300 are Private. (b): As per AISHE, no Universities/University level Institutions have been closed during last 5 years in rural areas. (c) to (e): As per AISHE, the student enrolment in Universities/University level Institutions located in rural areas of the country has increased from 20.1 lakh in 2018-19 to 27.9 lakh in 2022-23(provisional). There is an increase of 38.3% in enrolment in rural areas since 2018-19. *****