Delhi has 96 government colleges, according to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The figures show that the national capital has a relatively smaller network of government-run higher education institutions compared to many major states.
Replying to an unstarred question, Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar said there are 7,944 government colleges across the country, including government degree colleges, as per AISHE 2023-24. Delhi accounts for 96 of these institutions, while Rajasthan tops the list with 842 government colleges, followed by Madhya Pradesh (688), Karnataka (611) and Uttar Pradesh (465).
The minister said higher education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, with the majority of institutions being administered by state governments. He added that the Centre and states are working together to strengthen higher education infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions.
The government also informed Parliament that the total number of registered higher education institutions in the country has increased from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 64,756 in 2023-24, while enrolment has risen from 3.4 crore to nearly 4.5 crore over the same period.
To improve access and quality in higher education, the Centre said it is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), an upgraded version of RUSA, with an outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore. The scheme provides support for strengthening infrastructure such as hostels, laboratories, smart classrooms and academic buildings, with priority accorded to educationally underserved districts.
