Lok Sabha Question No. 1704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: GER in Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1704

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020 GER in Higher Education

1704. SHRI A. RAJA:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT मानव  संसाधन  िवकास  मंतर्ी be pleased to state:

- (a)     the details of the number of Universities, Colleges, Standalone Institutes, Schools across the country including Tamil Nadu;
- (b ) the details of the current gross enrolment ratio in higher education;
- (c) whether  it  is  not  as  per  the  set  GER  in  higher  education  especially  in  backward/rural areas of the country including Tamil Nadu;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action taken/being taken by  the  Government  to  cover  the  backward/rural  areas  within  the  country  including  Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  set  a  target  of  achieving  50  percent  GER  in higher education to equip its working population with employable skills; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a):    As  per  All  India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE),  2018-19  and  U-DISE+  2018-19 (Provisional),  the  number  of  Universities,  Colleges,  Standalone  Institutions  and  schools  across the  Country  is  993,  39931,  10725  and  1550006  respectively.  In  respect  of  Tamil  Nadu  State, there are 59 Universities, 2466 Colleges, 918 Standalone Institutions and 59152 schools.

- (b):  As  per  All  India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE),  2018-19,  the  current  gross enrolment  ratio  in  higher  education  in  India  is  26.3.  The  Gross  Enrolment  Ratio  in  higher education in Tamil Nadu is 49.0.

(c)  &  (d):    The  12th  Plan  Document  has  fixed  targets  of  30%  GER  by  2020-21.    In  order  to increase the enrolment in higher educational institutions, various measures have been taken by Government which includes issuing of new UGC regulation for Open and Distance Learning that allows  entry  of  reputed  institutions  to  offer  education  on  the  distance  mode.  Using  of  ICT technology-  SWAYAM portal  to  reach  out  of  people  and  allow  them  to  secure  good  quality education.  Encouraging  opening  of  institutions  by  State  Governments  through  the  Rashtriya Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  which  aims  to  achieve  equity,  access  and  excellence  in higher education. The scheme supports components such as upgrading autonomous colleges to universities, clustering colleges to establish a university, setting up of new professional colleges in un-served and underserved areas as well as providing infrastructure grants to universities and colleges to scale up capacity. More scholarship programmes to supplement the cost of education. Moreover,  Higher  Education  Financing  Agency  (HEFA)  has  been  established  under  the Companies Act, 2013 to leverage funds from market to finance improvement in infrastructure in top institutions of education.

(e) & (f):  No such target has been fixed.

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