Governance ยท GS2
All India Survey on Higher Education
One line
The Education Ministry released AISHE reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24, with higher-education gross enrolment ratio reaching 30 in 2023-24.
Summary
AISHE is India's main official data source for higher education. It collects information from institutions on enrolment, faculty, staff, infrastructure, and results. The data can inform access and equity policy, but participation and reporting quality affect the picture.
PYQ pattern
UPSC education questions often test indicators and their limits. Use the official UPSC archive and distinguish access, participation, completion, learning, and employability.
Core notes
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is enrolment divided by the population in the official age group for that level, expressed as a percentage.
- GER can exceed 100 in some contexts because it counts students of all ages in the numerator.
- The Gender Parity Index compares female GER with male GER. A value above 1 means female GER is higher than male GER.
- The release reported GER of 30 and a GPI of 1.08 for 2023-24. These are aggregate indicators and do not show quality or completion alone.
Prelims lens
- AISHE is a survey of higher-education institutions, not a population census.
- GER and net enrolment ratio are different measures.
- GPI above 1 does not mean women are ahead in every course, region, or leadership position.
MCQ 1
Consider the following statements:
- AISHE collects data from higher-education institutions.
- It covers only student enrolment and excludes faculty and infrastructure.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answerHide answer
A
AISHE collects enrolment, faculty, staff, infrastructure, examination, and related information.
MCQ 2
A Gender Parity Index above 1 for higher education means:
- A. female GER is higher than male GER in the measured aggregate
- B. every subject has equal male and female participation
- C. women hold every senior academic post
- D. the literacy rate is exactly 100%
Reveal answerHide answer
A
GPI compares female and male GER. An aggregate figure does not describe every field or career stage.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: How should India use higher-education indicators such as GER and GPI without confusing access with educational quality?
Approach:
- Define AISHE, GER, and GPI.
- Explain their use for planning, access, gender equity, and social-group inclusion.
- Discuss data coverage, age composition, regional variation, quality, completion, and employability.
- Recommend linked data, public metadata, learning measures, graduate outcomes, and institution-level support.