A recent report on higher education in India reveals a decline in the representation of Muslim students to 4.87% during the 2021-2022 period. Out of 43,268,181 enrolled students, Muslims accounted for only 2,108,033. This marks a continued decrease from 5.5% in 2020 to 4.6% in 2021.
According to the “All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE),” this disparity underscores significant challenges faced by Muslims in accessing higher education, compared to the national gross enrollment ratio (GER) of 24.1%.
The report highlights regional variations in representation. In Jammu and Kashmir, where Muslims form a majority, their representation was 34.5%, with a GER of 24.8%. Conversely, states like Arunachal Pradesh recorded the lowest Muslim representation at 0.16%, despite a GER of 36.5%.
In Kerala, where Muslims constitute 14.36% of students, the GER stands at 41.3%, reflecting relatively strong representation. However, states like Haryana and Himachal Pradesh show minimal representation at 0.99% and 0.41%, respectively. Uttar Pradesh aligns closely with the national average, with Muslims comprising 4.68% of students, while West Bengal reported a higher share at 12.33%.
The report stresses the need for inclusive educational policies to address systemic barriers hindering Muslim students’ access to higher education. It calls for targeted efforts to enhance accessibility and ensure balanced representation reflecting India’s religious and cultural diversity.
