Despite the emphasis on STEM, Arts remains India’s most popular undergraduate course

According to the latest ‘All India Survey on Higher Education’ (AISHE) report, Arts remained the most popular choice among undergraduate students in India in 2023-24. Despite policy-level emphasis on science, technology, and skill-based education, Arts accounted for approximately one-third of total enrollment.

The survey found that Arts held a 32.1 percent share of undergraduate enrollment, followed by Science (13.5 percent), Engineering and Technology (12.9 percent), and Commerce (12.0 percent). In terms of numbers, approximately 11 million (1.1 crore) students enrolled in Arts courses, more than double the number of students enrolled in Engineering and Technology.

Among specific degree programs, the Bachelor of Arts (BA), including BA (Honours), remained the most popular undergraduate course.

Among specific degree programs, the Bachelor of Arts (BA), including BA (Honours), remained the most popular undergraduate course. It accounted for 38.6 percent of all undergraduate students, representing approximately 13 million (1.3 crore) enrollments. This was followed by the Bachelor of Science (BSc) at 15.7 percent, Bachelor of Technology/Bachelor of Engineering (BTech/BE) at 12.7 percent, and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at 12.0 percent. Women constituted 53.9 percent of students enrolled in Arts courses.

Female participation was even higher in Education, recorded at 64.2 percent, whereas Engineering and Technology remained male-dominated fields, with women accounting for 31.1 percent of undergraduate enrollment.

Top 10 Arts Colleges in India

Below is a list of India’s top 10 arts colleges, known for their excellent education, comprehensive programs, and great placements. Many of these colleges complete their admissions process through national-level exams such as CUET.

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