Tamil Nadu Tops India with 2.18 Lakh Higher Education Teachers: AISHE 2023-24 Report

Tamil Nadu has emerged as the state with the highest number of higher education teachers in India, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 released by the Central Government.

The report states that Tamil Nadu has 2,18,656 faculty members, accounting for 12.6% of the country`s total higher education teaching workforce. The state has retained the top position ahead of Uttar Pradesh (12.1%) and Maharashtra (10.8%).

Across India, the total number of teachers in higher education institutions increased from 16,64,172 in 2022-23 to 17,32,294 in 2023-24, registering an increase of 68,122 teachers and a growth rate of 4.1%.

Tamil Nadu also recorded steady growth in its academic workforce, with the number of faculty members rising from 2,15,227 in 2022-23 to 2,18,656 in 2023-24, adding 3,429 teachers within a year.

The report attributes this growth to the continued expansion of colleges and universities across the state, along with Tamil Nadu`s sustained focus on strengthening higher education. The achievement complements the state`s impressive Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 52.3%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 28%.

AISHE data also highlights the social composition of the teaching workforce. Nationally, 55% of teachers belong to the General category, 32% to Other Backward Classes (OBC), 10% to Scheduled Castes (SC), and 3% to Scheduled Tribes (ST). In Tamil Nadu, 1,53,612 faculty members belong to the OBC category, reflecting strong representation of backward communities in the state`s higher education sector.

In terms of gender, the national higher education workforce comprises 55.1% men and 44.9% women.

The survey also provides insights into minority representation. Across India, there are 99,520 Muslim teachers (5.7%) and 1,47,115 teachers from other minority communities (8.5%). While Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka have the highest numbers of Muslim faculty members, Tamil Nadu leads the country in faculty members from other minority communities, contributing 19% of the national total, followed by Punjab (16.2%) and Kerala (13.7%).

The latest AISHE report indicates that India`s higher education sector continues to expand, with Tamil Nadu maintaining its leadership through consistent faculty growth, strong enrolment, and broad social representation. These achievements further reinforce the state`s position as one of India`s leading centres for higher education and academic employment.