HRD Ministry Launched the Third all India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on 3 September 2013 launched the third All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)-2012-13. The Survey was initiated in the year 2011 to prepare a robust data-base on higher education. Data for the year 2010-11 was collected during the first year of the survey. Keeping in view the usefulness of data collected during the very first year, Ministry has decided to make this survey an annual exercise of data collection in higher education sector.

The survey covers all the Higher Education (HE) Institutions of the country including Universities, Colleges, and Stand-Alone Institutions. The entire survey has been voluntary, based on motivation of respondents; and without any statutory mandate in place for collecting information of this nature. It needs a Survey like this to bring out the correct and complete picture of the system so that relevant statistics are available to the Central Government as well as State Governments, in order to devise future policies.

The survey is also unique in the sense that it is a participatory effort between State Governments, Regulatory Statutory Authorities, and the Ministries of the Government of India. The Survey compiles and manages statistics directly online from respondent institutions. The main items of data collection under survey are Basic details, Programme details, Teaching & Non-Teaching Staff, Student Enrolment, Examination Results and Scholarships. The survey for the year 2011-12 is under progress. With the launch of 2012-13 survey, two year data could be collected simultaneously and the time-lag will be reduced to bare minimum.