Data Point GS Paper 2 & 3 Economy & Social Sector

Welfare Spending & Higher Education in India: Key Data Points

A statistical snapshot of India’s welfare expenditure trends and higher education enrolment growth – essential numbers for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Welfare spending is increasingly funded by States, not the Union, even as higher education enrolment – especially among women and SC/ST/OBC students – has grown sharply since 2014-15.

Welfare Spending (2025-26)

Rs. 24.20 lakh crore – 6.77% of GDP

Higher Ed Enrolment

4.5 crore students (+31.5% since 2014-15)

Gender Parity Index

1.08 – Female GER at 31.2

Welfare Spending in India

Welfare Expenditure

Combined Union and State welfare allocations reached Rs. 24.20 lakh crore in 2025-26.
Welfare expenditure accounted for 6.77% of GDP in 2025-26.

Union vs State Contribution

The Union government’s contribution accounted for only 1.89% of GDP.
The overall increase in social sector spending has been driven primarily by States.

Fiscal Burden on States

States financed nearly 75.2% of total school education expenditure.
States spent Rs. 4.14 lakh crore on unconditional cash transfers, per the 16th Finance Commission.

Centrally Sponsored Schemes

PMMVY and ICDS follow a 60:40 Centre-State funding pattern.
MGNREGA earlier followed a 90:10 funding ratio, with States expected to bear higher costs under VB-GRAM G.

Fiscal Federalism

Tax revenues remain concentrated with the Union, while welfare responsibilities increasingly fall on States.
Despite a comparable tax-to-GDP ratio, India’s social security spending remains lower than many middle-income countries.

Higher Education in India

Overall Enrolment Growth

Total higher education enrolment increased by 31.5%, from 3.42 crore (2014-15) to 4.5 crore (2023-24).
Data is based on AISHE 2022-23 and 2023-24, covering 59,533 higher education institutions.

Women in Higher Education

Female enrolment increased by 42.2%, from 1.57 crore to 2.24 crore since 2014-15.
Gender Parity Index (GPI) reached 1.08 in 2023-24, above parity for seven consecutive years.
Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) stood at 31.2, exceeding the national GER.

Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)

India’s overall GER for the 18-23 years age group reached 30 in 2023-24.
Female GER (31.2) surpassed the national average.

Social Inclusion

SC enrolment increased by 51.4%, reaching 69.72 lakh; SC GER improved from 18.9 to 27.8.
ST enrolment increased by 75.7%, reaching 28.83 lakh; ST GER improved from 13.5 to 22.8.
OBC enrolment increased by 60.2%, from 1.13 crore to 1.80 crore.

STEM Education

STEM enrolment reached 1.02 crore students in 2023-24.
Women’s share in STEM increased from 38.4% to 44% over the past decade.

SRC

Data compiled from: AISHE 2022-23 & 2023-24 (Ministry of Education), 16th Finance Commission Report, Union Budget 2025-26.
Content curated for UPSC Civil Services Prelims & Mains | GS Paper 2 & 3 – Economy & Social Sector