Growth of Higher Education Institutions in India: A State Level Analysis

Chandrima Chakraborty , Indrajit Sahoo

Education is an essential component of the social sector and serves as a key driver of long-term economic growth and human capital formation. Over the past decade, India's higher education sector has witnessed massive expansion, resulting in a significant increase in the number of universities and colleges across various States and Union Territories (UTs). However, alongside this quantitative growth, significant spatial disparities have also been observed in the distribution of higher education institutions, raising concerns regarding regional imbalances and equitable access. The present study examines the growth and distribution of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across various States and Union Territories of India within the context of the 2010-11 to 2019-20 period. Data for this study were collected from the ‘All India Survey on Higher Education’ (AISHE), and the various factors influencing this growth of HEIs were investigated through the application of panel regression analysis.  To understand the impact on the dynamics of growth, variables such as per capita income, government expenditure on education, population, and demographic characteristics are taken into consideration. The empirical results reveal significant inter-state variation and uneven institutional density, indicating that economically strong states experience rapid expansion in higher education infrastructure. By comparing States and Union Territories over time, the study highlights the diverse growth trajectories and structural constraints that shape regional development patterns. These insights contribute to the ongoing policy discussions aimed at reducing regional disparities and fostering balanced, inclusive, and sustainable growth within India's higher education sector.