Lok Sabha Question No. 1204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Gross Enrolment Ratio among SC/ST Students
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1204 ANSWERED ON-11/12/2023

## GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO AMONG SC/ST STUDENTS

1204. SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (in Higher Education) among SC/ST Students has been at 23.4 and 18.0 respectively, which is still below the national average of 27.1;

(b) if so, the details of measures being taken by the Government to deal with the same; and

(c) the progress made in this respect, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)       As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the SC GER has increased to 25.9 in  2021-22 (Provisional) from 18.9 in 2014-15 and ST GER has increased to 21.2 in 2021-22(Provisional) from 13.5 in 2014-15, whereas the National GER in Higher Education has increased to 28.4 in 2021-22 (Provisional) from 23.7 in 2014-15.  The SC student enrolment has increased significantly to 66.23 lakh in 2021-22 (Provisional) from 46.07 lakh in 2014-15 (44% increase) and enrolment of ST students has increased 27.1 lakh in 2021-22(Provisional) from 16.4 lakh in 2014-15 (increase of 65.2%).

(b)  &  (c)  Education  is  in  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  Higher Education  Institutions  are  in  the  domain  of  the  respective  States.  The  States  and  Centre endeavour  to  uplift  the  educational  status  of  the  students  of  the  country,  especially  the disadvantaged communities like SC and ST. In this regard, the Government has taken several initiatives  to  encourage  the  students  of  SC/ST  communities  which  has  resulted  in  higher enrolment in these communities over the years.  Some of these initiatives inter-alia include: -

- Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing Scholarships/Fellowships for ST students such  as,  National  Scholarships(Top  classes)  for  pursuing  Graduate/Post  Graduate courses  in  notified  Government  and  Non-Government  institutions  in  professional subjects, National Fellowship Scheme for ST students(fellowships for meritorious ST students to pursue Phd/MPhil) and National Overseas Scholarships.
- Ministry of Social Justice is implementing various Scholarship/Fellowship Schemes for SC students such as Top Class Education for SCs (in which financial support is given to  pursue  studies  beyond  12 th Class),  National  Overseas  Scheme  for  SCs,  National Fellowship Scheme for SC Students, etc.
- Ministry of Education, including University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council  of  Technical  Education  (AICTE),  are  providing  financial  assistance  to  the students of higher education including for SC/ST/OBC and Minority students through various Scholarships and Fellowships.
- Undergraduate SC/ST students are exempted from payment of tuition fee in National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- With the objective of supporting improvement of access, equity and excellence in State higher  education  system,  Government  is  implementing  Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) with an Outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
- Hostels  for  SC/ST  students  are  constructed  under  the  Campus  Accommodation  & Facilities Enhancing Social Experience (CAFES) of AICTE.
- The University Grants Commission is implementing the following  Schemes :-
- i. Remedial  Coaching  for  SC/ST/OBC  (non-creamy  layer),  and  Minority  Community Students
- ii. Coaching Classes for Entry into Services for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Minority Community Students
- iii. Coaching For National Eligibility Test or State Eligibility Test for SC/ST/OBC (NonCreams Layer), and Minority Community Students.
- iv. Certain relaxations in eligibility conditions in UGC-Junior Research Fellowship    for SC/ST students are provided.

· To facilitate students, particularly from vernacular/rural background, Exams such as JEE, NEET (UG) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) are being conducted in 13 languages, and Text Books in Indian Languages are being published in a phased manner.

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