Student enrollment in Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) across Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a notable increase, moving from 43,030 in 2024 to 48,641 in 2025. This rise of over 5,600 students suggests a recovery trend in the region’s higher education sector.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that 143 colleges are currently operational throughout the Union Territory. The higher education department provided these figures in response to an un-starred assembly question. The latest data reflects an improvement in admissions for the current academic session.
Officials attribute this enrollment surge to policy initiatives implemented by the government. These include the introduction of a centralized admission portal, the rationalization of subject combinations offered, and the rollout of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP). These measures are believed to have enhanced student interest in pursuing higher education at government institutions.
Enrollment trends at the district level largely mirror the overall positive trajectory. Colleges in Anantnag, for example, have reported an increase of approximately 11.8 percent in student admissions. However, the situation is not uniform across all institutions, with some experiencing localized declines in enrollment.
Government Degree College Bijbehara serves as an example of an institution facing challenges, with its enrollment dropping from 462 students in 2024 to 324 students in 2025, marking a decrease of 138 students over the two-year period. This highlights the varied performance across different colleges in the region.
The data also reveals significant disparities in enrollment numbers among various colleges. Prominent institutions like Government Gandhi Memorial Science College Jammu, with approximately 1,494 students, Government MAM College Jammu, boasting over 1,600 students, and Islamia College of Science and Commerce Srinagar, with more than 1,100 students, show robust demand. These established urban colleges continue to attract a substantial number of students.
Conversely, several colleges are reporting very low student enrollment figures. Institutions such as GDC Tulail, GDC Gurez, and GDC Chatroo have enrollments in the double digits. Furthermore, some colleges, including GDC Baghi Dilawar Khan and GDC Chattisinghpora, currently have no active student enrollment, raising questions about their operational viability and resource utilization.
The government has stated that the establishment of new colleges is subject to thorough feasibility assessments. However, it acknowledges that student enrollment levels can fluctuate due to demographic shifts, geographical accessibility, and evolving student preferences. The department is committed to addressing these variations.
Officials from the higher education department are undertaking continuous reviews of all colleges. These reviews encompass infrastructure, the range of courses offered, and admission patterns to ensure the effective utilization of available resources. Strategies such as restructuring academic programmes and aligning course offerings with current employment opportunities are being actively pursued to maintain the positive enrollment trend observed in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
