26.5% Surge in Higher Education Enrolment and 1 Lakh Patents Highlight India’s Educational and R&D Advancements

New Delhi: The Economic Survey 2023-24, presented today by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament, underscores a remarkable 26.5% increase in higher education enrolment and a significant boost in research and development (R&D) achievements. This year’s survey highlights the transformative progress in India’s educational sector and its strides in innovation.

Higher Education Enrollment and Equity

According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22, total enrolment in higher education surged to nearly 4.33 crore in FY22 from 4.14 crore in FY21 and 3.42 crore in FY15, marking a 26.5% increase since FY15. The Economic Survey emphasizes that this growth is driven by underprivileged groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), with notable gains in female enrolment.

Female enrolment in higher education rose to 2.07 crore in FY22 from 1.57 crore in FY15, reflecting a 31.6% increase. This progress in enrolment equity is expected to enhance employment opportunities for previously marginalized sections.

Re-imagining Lifelong Learning Through Digital Innovation

India’s educational landscape, with 26.52 crore school students, 4.33 crore higher education students, and over 11 crore learners in skilling institutions, benefits from a robust network of 14.89 lakh schools, 1,168 universities, and 45,473 colleges. The National Credit Framework (NCrF), introduced under the National Education Policy 2020 in April 2023, supports lifelong learning through digital solutions such as APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).

APAAR provides unique identities and lifelong academic credentials, while ABC facilitates credit transfer and recognition across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As of July 2024, 2,037 HEIs have adopted ABC, and 30.13 crore APAAR IDs have been created.

Advancing Education Quality and R&D

The Survey calls for enhanced implementation of educational programs, focusing on improving primary education quality. Recommendations include investing in pedagogical approaches, teacher quality, and governance.

India’s R&D sector has seen significant progress, with nearly 1,00,000 patents granted in FY24, up from under 25,000 in FY20. The country has experienced a 31.6% increase in patent filings in 2022, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). India’s Global Innovation Index ranking has improved from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023, and the nation is now 9th in the Nature Index 2023, surpassing Australia and Switzerland. The volume of high-quality research articles has risen by 44% over the past four years.

The government’s establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, alongside a ₹1 lakh crore allocation for research and innovation in the FY25 interim budget, reflects India’s commitment to advancing scientific research. Increased scholarships for PhD and post-doctoral research further support this commitment.