Trends
What Indian students are choosing.
Official figures on courses, entrance exams, top-ranked colleges and study abroad. Each one links to the government page it came from and is checked there before it's shown.
Courses in Indian colleges
All India Survey on Higher Education (Ministry of Education)
STEM enrolment (based on actual response)
1.01 crore (22.5% of total enrolment) 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Out of the total enrolment in 2023-24, the number of student enrolment in STEM is 1.01 crores (22.5%) based on actual response.”
Higher education institutions registered in AISHE (universities)
1,289 universities/university-level institutions 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“A total of 1,289 Universities/University level Institutions, 48,246 Colleges”
Higher education institutions registered in AISHE (colleges)
48,246 colleges 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“A total of 1,289 Universities/University level Institutions, 48,246 Colleges”
Higher education institutions registered in AISHE (standalone institutions)
15,221 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“15,221 Standalone Institutions were registered in AISHE 2023-24”
Share of enrolment at undergraduate level
76.8% (3.5 crore students) 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Maximum enrolment is reported in Undergraduate programmes with 76.8% of total enrolment (3.5 crore students)”
Share of enrolment at postgraduate level
12.9% 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“12.9% are enrolled in postgraduate (PG) level courses.”
UG enrolment share by discipline: Arts / Science / Engineering & Technology / Commerce
Arts 32.1%; Science 13.5%; Engineering & Technology 12.9%; Commerce 12.0% 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Based on actual response at UG level, enrolment is highest in Arts (32.1%), followed by science (13.5%), Engineering & Technology (12.9%) and Commerce (12.0%)”
PG enrolment share by stream: Social Science / Management
Social Science 18.6%; Management 18.2% 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Based on actual response, at PG level, maximum students are enrolled in Social Science stream (18.6%) followed by Management (18.2%).”
UG out-turn (graduates) by programme
B.A. 24.4 lakh; B.Sc. 11.51 lakh; B.Com. 9.6 lakh; B.E.+B.Tech. 8.2 lakh 2023-24
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“At UG level, the highest out-turn is in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with 24.4 lakhs, followed by Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with 11.51 lakhs, Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) with 9.6 lakhs and 8.2 lakhs in Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) & Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) combined.”
UG enrolment: B.A. (incl. B.A. Hons)
1.4 crore (39.9% of UG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Among all the Under Graduate (UG) level programs,Bachelor of Arts(B.A.) along with B. A. (Hons.)) programme has the highest enrolment, with 1.4 crore students (39.9% of total UG enrolment).”
13 more figures
UG enrolment: B.Sc. (incl. B.Sc. Hons)
54.8 lakh (16.1% of UG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), along with B.Sc. (Hons) has 54.8 lakh (16.1% of the total UG enrolment)”
UG enrolment: B.Com. (incl. B.Com. Hons)
43.1 lakh (12.7% of UG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“and B.Com.-Bachelor of Commerce along with B.Com. (Hons) has 43.1 lakh enrolment (12.7%).”
UG enrolment: B.Tech.
26.9 lakh (7.9% of UG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“B.Tech.-Bachelor of Technology has 26.9 lakh enrolment (7.9%).”
UG enrolment share, top programmes (Figure 14 labels)
“Figure 14 gives the top 10 programs with maximum enrolment in UG level.”
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Figure 14 gives the top 10 programs with maximum enrolment in UG level.”
PG enrolment: M.A.
23.3 lakh (41.5% of PG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Master of Arts (M.A.) programme has the highest enrolment, with 23.3 lakhs students (41.5% of total PG enrolment).”
PG enrolment: M.Sc.
10.04 lakh (17.9% of PG enrolment) 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Master of Science (M.Sc.) has 10.04 lakh (17.9% of the total PG enrolment).”
UG enrolment by discipline: Arts
1.15 crore 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Highest enrolment among all is in Arts discipline with 1.15 crore students, out of which 51.9% are female”
UG enrolment by discipline: Science
47.5 lakh 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Science discipline has 47.5 lakh students enrolled (out of them 52% are female are 48% are male).”
UG enrolment by discipline: Commerce
43.1 lakh 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“There are 43.1 lakh students enrolled in Commerce discipline (out of them 47.5% are female and 52.5% are male students).”
UG enrolment by discipline: Engineering & Technology
40.6 lakh 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Similarly, Engineering & Technology has 40.6 lakh enrolled students out of which 30.1% are female and 69.9% are male.”
UG enrolment by discipline: Medical Science
19.6 lakh 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Under Medical Science discipline there are 19.6 lakh students enrolled out of which 57.7% are females”
UG enrolment by discipline: Education
18.1 lakh 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Under Education discipline 18.1 lakh students enrolled out of which 63.3% are females and 36.7% are male students.”
UG enrolment share by discipline (Figure 16 labels)
Arts 34.0%; Science 14.0%; Commerce 12.7%; Engineering & Technology 11.9%; Indian Language 1.0% 2022-23
Source and exact words
Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Based on actual response at undergraduate level, enrolment is highest in Arts (34%), followed by science (14%), Commerce (12.7%) and Engineering & Technology (11.9%).”
How many sit each entrance exam
National Testing Agency and other official bodies
JEE (Main) 2025 unique candidates registered (both sessions)
15,39,848 2025
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Total number of Unique Candidates Registered in both Sessions (January/April) of the JEE (Main) - 2025 Examination. 15,39,848”
JEE (Main) 2025 unique candidates appeared (both sessions)
14,75,103 2025
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Total Number of Unique Candidates Appeared in both Sessions (January/April) of the JEE (Main) - 2025 Examination. 14,75,103”
JEE (Main) 2025 Session 1 registered / appeared
“Number of candidates registered in January 2025 (Session 1) Examination 13,11,544”
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Number of candidates registered in January 2025 (Session 1) Examination 13,11,544”
NEET (UG) 2026 candidates appeared
close to 20 lakh 2026 (re-examination held 21 June 2026)
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“A total of close to 20 lakh candidates appeared for NEET (UG) 2026 at 5,440 centres in 551 cities”
NEET (UG) 2026 candidates qualified
11.21 lakh 2026
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“11.21 lakh candidates have qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied programmes.”
CUET (UG) 2025 unique candidates registered
13,54,699 2025
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“13,54,699 (Thirteen lakh fifty four thousand six hundred and ninety nine) unique registered candidates.”
CUET (UG) 2025 unique candidates appeared
“No. of unique candidates appeared 11 ,13,610 10,71 ,735”
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“No. of unique candidates appeared 11 ,13,610 10,71 ,735”
CUET (UG) 2025 participating universities
239 2025
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“No. of universities 283 239”
CUET (UG) 2026 unique candidates registered
15,68,867 2026
Source and exact words
National Testing Agency(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“No. of unique candidates registered 15,68,867”
JoSAA 2026 participating institutes
“manage and regulate the joint seat allocation for admissions to 138 institutes for the academic year 2026-27.”
Source and exact words
Joint Seat Allocation Authority (Ministry of Education)(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“manage and regulate the joint seat allocation for admissions to 138 institutes for the academic year 2026-27.”
1 more figures
Total MBBS seats (excluding Institutes of National Importance)
1,40,664 seats in 839 medical colleges 2026-27
Source and exact words
National Medical Commission (MARB)(official source, opens in a new tab)Checked on the official site: Our independent check re-opened the official page and found this there.checked 19 Oct 2026
“Grand Total 447 61185 2936 64121 392 65843 10700 76543 839 127028 13636 140664”
Where jobs are growing
Careers in demand — what NITI Aayog, the Economic Survey, the World Economic Forum and others expect to grow.
20 more facts are waiting for our separate check against the official page, so they aren't shown yet.