Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Despite years of policy emphasis on science, technology, engineering and skill-based education, the Arts continues to be the preferred choice for undergraduate students in India. The latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023–24 shows that the Arts remains the country’s largest undergraduate stream, accounting for nearly one-third of total enrolment.
While STEM disciplines have collectively crossed the one-crore enrolment mark, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) continues to be India’s most popular degree programme, underscoring the enduring appeal of humanities in the country’s higher education landscape.
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ARTS CONTINUES TO LEAD UNDERGRADUATE ENROLMENT
The AISHE 2023-24 report shows that Arts remained the largest undergraduate discipline in India, accounting for 32.1 percent of total enrolment. Science ranked second with 13.5 percent, followed closely by Engineering and Technology at 12.9 per cent, while Commerce accounted for 12 per cent.
In absolute terms, nearly 1.1 crore students were enrolled in Arts programmes, more than double the number pursuing Engineering and Technology courses. The figures reinforce the Arts’ position as the dominant undergraduate stream, even as the government continues to prioritise STEM education to build a technology-driven workforce.
BA REMAINS INDIA’S MOST POPULAR DEGREE
Among individual undergraduate programmes, the Bachelor of Arts (BA), including BA (Honours), remained India’s most sought-after degree.
The course accounted for 38.6 per cent of all undergraduate enrolments, representing around 1.3 crore students.
The Bachelor of Science (BSc) ranked second with 15.7 per cent, followed by Bachelor of Technology/Bachelor of Engineering (BTech/BE) at 12.7 per cent and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at 12 per cent.
The figures suggest that while technical education continues to attract large numbers, traditional academic programmes remain the preferred pathway for millions of students.
WOMEN DOMINATE ARTS, EDUCATION; ENGINEERING REMAINS MALE-HEAVY
The survey also highlights significant gender differences across disciplines.
Women made up 53.9 per cent of undergraduate students enrolled in Arts courses, giving them a majority in the country’s largest academic stream.
The Education discipline recorded an even higher female representation, with women accounting for 64.2 per cent of enrolment.
In contrast, Engineering and Technology continued to be the most male-dominated field, where women represented only 31.1 per cent of undergraduate students.
SOCIAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT TOP POSTGRADUATE CHOICES
At the postgraduate level, Social Science emerged as the most popular discipline, accounting for 18.6 per cent of enrolment.
It was closely followed by Management with 18.2 per cent, while Science accounted for 15.1 per cent and Commerce for 7.8 per cent.
Among degree programmes, the Master of Arts (MA) remained the most popular postgraduate qualification, representing 39.5 per cent of all postgraduate enrolments, or around 22.6 lakh students.
The Master of Science (MSc) followed with 17.4 per cent, while the Master of Business Administration (MBA) accounted for 16.9 per cent of postgraduate enrolments.
BA PRODUCES THE LARGEST NUMBER OF GRADUATES
The graduation data mirrors the enrolment trends, with the Bachelor of Arts producing the highest number of graduates during the 2023-24 academic year.
Around 24.4 lakh BA students graduated, significantly ahead of other programmes.
The Bachelor of Science produced 11.5 lakh graduates, followed by Bachelor of Commerce with 9.6 lakh and Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Technology with 8.2 lakh graduates.
The AISHE 2023–24 findings underscore a striking reality in India’s higher education landscape. While government initiatives continue to promote STEM education to meet the demands of a technology-driven economy, Arts remain the backbone of undergraduate education, attracting the largest share of students and producing the highest number of graduates.
At the same time, the combined growth of science, engineering and technology programmes reflects a gradual diversification of student preferences, suggesting that India’s higher education system is evolving without diminishing the enduring appeal of traditional academic disciplines.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
