In the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) for the year 2021-22 reveals that Haryana has not witnessed the establishment of any new universities, be they government, aided, or private. The state maintained its count of 56 universities from the previous session (2020-21). This stands in stark contrast to neighboring Punjab, which experienced an increase from 34 universities in 2020-21 to 40 in 2021-22. Similarly, Uttar Pradesh saw a rise from 84 to 91 universities during the same period.
Prior to the pandemic, Haryana had 53 universities, and in the 2018-19 session, the state had 48 universities. The lack of growth in the number of universities during the pandemic years reflects a contrasting trend compared to some other states in the region.
Furthermore, the AISHE survey highlights that only 10 new colleges were established in Haryana during the 2021-22 session, a notably lower figure compared to the national trend of 921 new colleges across the country during the same period. Among the newly established colleges in Haryana, six were private, three were government, and one was aided. These institutions collectively enrolled 1,234 students.
In an attempt to address educational needs, the Haryana government had sought affiliation for its colleges with Panjab University (PU) in Chandigarh in June of the previous year. However, the proposal faced rejection from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
According to an official from the higher education department, Haryana Chief Minister Khattar expressed the belief that PU is a shared asset of both states, underscoring the complexities and inter-state dynamics in the region.
The overall national scenario presented by the AISHE survey for the session 2021-22 indicates a total of 1,168 universities across the country, emphasizing the continuous growth and development of the higher education landscape in India during challenging times.