Private Universities Drive India’s Higher Education Expansion, Growing Three Times Faster Than Public Institutions Over a Decade
India’s higher education landscape has witnessed a major transformation over the past decade, with private universities emerging as the primary drivers of institutional growth. According to the Ministry of Education’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24, the number of private universities increased from 219 in 2013-14 to 546 in 2023-24, registering a remarkable 149.3% growth. In comparison, government universities rose from 504 to 733 during the same period, reflecting a comparatively modest 45.4% increase. Overall, the total number of universities in the country climbed from 723 to 1,279, marking a 76.9% rise over the decade. The data indicates that private universities expanded at more than three times the pace of their government counterparts. At the state level, Gujarat recorded the highest increase in private universities, adding 51 institutions to reach 67 private universities in 2023-24, overtaking Rajasthan, which now has 57. Madhya Pradesh followed with 52 private universities, while Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra reported 45 and 42, respectively. Government universities, however, continued to maintain a strong presence across the country. Uttar Pradesh remained the leading state in terms of public universities, increasing its count from 35 to 58, followed by Karnataka, which expanded from 32 to 51 government institutions. Despite the rapid rise in private universities, public institutions continue to educate the majority of university students. Government university enrolment increased from 51.9 lakh students in 2013-14 to 73.9 lakh in 2023-24, although their share of total enrolment declined from 81.3% to 68.1% over the decade. Private universities, on the other hand, recorded a much sharper increase in student numbers. Enrolment nearly tripled from 11.9 lakh to 34.6 lakh students, representing a 191.8% growth. Their share of total university enrolment rose from 18.6% in 2013-14 to 31.9% in 2023-24, highlighting their growing role in India’s higher education ecosystem. The AISHE findings also point to broader progress in higher education participation. India’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for the 18–23 age group improved from 23.0 in 2013-14 to 30.0 in 2023-24. Female participation continued to outpace that of males, with the female GER reaching 31.2, compared to the male GER of 28.9, marking the seventh consecutive year in which women recorded a higher enrolment ratio. Source: Indian Express
