From Promise to Reality: Achieving Universal Girls Education in India by 2030

Introduction

India has prioritized girls’ education since independence, yet significant challenges persist in achieving universal elementary education. The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 enshrined education as a fundamental right for children aged 6–14 years, mandating free and compulsory education. Despite legal frameworks, India accounts for a significant share of the world’s out-of-school children, with girls facing disproportionate barriers due to patriarchal norms, poverty, and caste-based discrimination. As of June 2025, India’s education system has made notable progress, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for

girls in elementary education reaching 98.2% (Unified District Information System for Education [UDISE] 2023–24). However, dropout rates, particularly at the upper primary level, and regional disparities remain critical concerns. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Samagra Shiksha scheme have introduced transformative measures to address these challenges, emphasizing gender equity and inclusion. Despite these efforts, societal taboos, inadequate infrastructure, and implementation gaps continue to impede progress. This article analyzes the current scenario of girls’ education, evaluates key government initiatives, and outlines strategies to achieve universal girls’ education by 2030, in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Current Scenario of Girls’ Education in India (2025)

As of 2025, India has made significant progress in improving access to education, driven by policy reforms and targeted interventions. According to UDISE 2023–24, the GER for girls at the primary level is 98.2%, and at the upper primary level, it is 94.7%. The gender parity index (GPI) at the elementary level stands at 0.99, indicating near parity in enrollment. However, challenges persist:

• Dropout Rates: The dropout rate for girls at the upper primary level is 3.9% (UDISE 2023–24), higher in states like Bihar (5.7%) and Uttar Pradesh (4.8%) compared to Kerala (0.8%) and Tamil Nadu (1.2%).

• Learning Outcomes: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 highlights that only 45% of girls in Class 5 can read at a Class 2 level, and 28% can perform basic arithmetic, indicating quality gaps.

• Regional Disparities: Southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu outperform northern states like Rajasthan and Bihar in girls’ enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes.

• Marginalized Communities: Girls from SC/ST and minority communities face higher dropout rates due to socio-economic barriers and discrimination.

The COVID-19 pandemic (2020–22) exacerbated these challenges, with UNESCO estimating that 10 million girls in India were at risk of dropping out due to school closures and economic hardships. Digital divides further limited access to online education, particularly for rural girls. However, post-pandemic recovery efforts, including digital learning initiatives and back-to-school campaigns, have helped mitigate some impacts.

Causes of Gender Disparities in Education

Gender disparities in education stem from a complex interplay of social, economic, and structural factors:

1. Patriarchal Norms: Deep-rooted societal beliefs prioritize boys’ education, viewing girls as future homemakers. Early marriage remains a significant barrier, with 23% of girls aged 15–19 married before 18 (National Family Health Survey [NFHS-5], 2020–21).

2. Economic Constraints: Poverty forces families to allocate resources to boys, as girls’ education is perceived to yield lower economic returns. The opportunity cost of girls’ labor in household or agricultural work is high in rural areas (Aggarwal, 1997).

3. Caste and Social Marginalization: SC/ST girls face compounded disadvantages, with lower enrollment (92% for ST girls vs. 98% overall) and higher dropout rates (UDISE 2023–24).

4. Infrastructure Barriers: Lack of safe schools, separate toilets, and transportation discourages girls’ attendance, particularly in rural areas. Only 85% of schools have functional girls’ toilets (UDISE 2023–24).

5. Gender Bias in Schools: Subtle biases in curricula and teacher attitudes reinforce stereotypes, limiting girls’ participation in STEM and leadership roles.

Government Initiatives for Girls’ Education

The Government of India has implemented a range of initiatives to promote girls’ education, with NEP 2020 and Samagra Shiksha being pivotal in the current landscape.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

NEP 2020, implemented since 2020, is a transformative policy aiming for equitable and inclusive education by 2030. Key provisions for girls include:

• Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF): Provides financial support for scholarships, bicycles, and safe transportation to reduce dropout rates among girls.

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Ensures foundational literacy and numeracy for girls aged 3–6 through Anganwadis and pre-schools.

• Flexible Learning Pathways: Expands open and distance learning via the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for girls unable to attend regular schools.

• STEM Promotion: Encourages girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through targeted programs like Vigyan Jyoti.

• Gender-Sensitive Pedagogy: Mandates teacher training to create inclusive classrooms and address gender biases.

As of 2025, the GIF has supported over 2 million girls with scholarships and transportation, significantly boosting enrollment in educationally backward blocks (Ministry of Education, 2024).

Samagra Shiksha

Launched in 2018, Samagra Shiksha integrates earlier schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) to provide holistic education from pre-school to grade 12. Key features for girls include:

• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs): Over 6,000 KGBVs provide residential schooling for girls from SC/ST, OBC, and minority communities, with 1.2 million girls enrolled as of 2024.

• Infrastructure Upgrades: 90% of government schools now have separate girls’ toilets and drinking water facilities (UDISE 2023–24).

• Incentives: Free textbooks, uniforms, and scholarships for girls, reducing financial barriers.

• Community Mobilization: School Management Committees (SMCs) engage parents to monitor girls’ attendance and retention.

• Digital Initiatives: Samagra Shiksha supports digital platforms like DIKSHA, providing free educational content to bridge learning gaps for girls in remote areas.

Other Key Initiatives

• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP): Launched in 2015, BBBP combines awareness campaigns with educational incentives. By 2025, it has reached 640 districts, improving girls’ enrollment by 15% in targeted areas (Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2024).

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals to 120 million children, incentivizing girls’ attendance and improving nutrition (UDISE 2023–24).

• Mahila Samakhya: Empowers women’s collectives to advocate for girls’ education, addressing social barriers like early marriage.

• National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL): Supports girl-friendly schools in educationally backward blocks, providing stationery and remedial classes.

• Vigyan Jyoti and GATI: Promote girls’ participation in STEM through scholarships and mentorship programs.

Societal Efforts and Community Engagement

Societal initiatives complement government efforts by addressing cultural barriers and fostering community support:

• NGOs and Women’s Groups: Organizations like Pratham and CARE India conduct awareness campaigns and provide learning support for out-of-school girls.

• Community Monitoring: Village Education Committees (VECs) and SMCs ensure girls’ enrollment and retention, as seen in Samagra Shiksha’s framework.

• Role Models: Educated women inspire families to prioritize girls’ education, breaking stereotypes in rural communities.

• Local Advocacy: Grassroots movements challenge early marriage and promote girls’ schooling, particularly in northern states.

Despite these efforts, patriarchal attitudes and economic pressures continue to limit progress, necessitating sustained community engagement.

Challenges in Girls’ Education

Despite significant progress, several challenges remain:

1. Persistent Lag Despite Efforts: Despite concerted efforts by the government and NGOs, India continues to lag in achieving universal girls’ education. Programs like Samagra Shiksha, NEP 2020, and BBBP have significantly increased enrollment, yet systemic issues persist. According to UNESCO’s 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report, India still accounts for 8.5 million out-of-school girls, primarily from rural and marginalized communities. Implementation gaps, such as inconsistent funding and bureaucratic delays, undermine the effectiveness of initiatives like KGBVs and NPEGEL. For instance, only 70% of allocated funds under the Gender Inclusion Fund were utilized in 2023–24 due to administrative bottlenecks (Ministry of Education, 2024). NGOs like Pratham and Save the Children have scaled up remedial education and awareness campaigns, but their reach is limited by resource constraints and regional disparities. Cultural barriers, including early marriage and son preference, remain deeply entrenched, particularly in northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where female literacy rates are as low as 60% and 65%, respectively (NFHS-5). Moreover, the quality of education remains a critical concern, with ASER 2024 reporting that only 45% of girls in Class 5 achieve basic literacy. These challenges highlight the need for stronger coordination between government and NGOs, increased investment, and targeted interventions to address both access and quality gaps. (Word count: 220)

2. Quality Gaps: Poor learning outcomes, with only 45% of Class 5 girls achieving basic literacy (ASER 2024).

3. High Dropout Rates: Economic pressures and early marriage lead to higher dropout rates among girls, particularly in rural areas.

4. Regional Disparities: Northern states lag behind southern states in enrollment, retention, and infrastructure.

5. Digital Divide: Limited access to devices and internet connectivity hinders girls’ participation in online learning.

6. Teacher Shortages: Only 48% of teachers in rural schools are female, impacting girls’ comfort and attendance (UDISE 2023–24).

Strategies to Achieve Universal Girls’ Education by 2030

To achieve universal girls’ education by 2030, aligning with SDG 4 and NEP 2020’s vision, India must adopt a multi-pronged approach. Below are key strategies:

1. Strengthen Policy Implementation

• Decentralized Targets: Set state-specific targets under Samagra Shiksha to address regional disparities, with regular monitoring by the Ministry of Education.

• Increased Funding: Allocate 6% of GDP to education, as recommended by NEP 2020, prioritizing girls’ education through the Gender Inclusion Fund.

• Accountability Mechanisms: Use real-time data from UDISE and ASER to track progress and address implementation gaps.

2. Enhance Infrastructure and Safety

• Safe Schools: Ensure 100% of schools have functional girls’ toilets, drinking water, and boundary walls by 2028.

• Transportation: Expand bicycle distribution and safe transport programs to reduce distance-related barriers.

• Residential Schools: Scale up KGBVs to cover all educationally backward blocks, targeting 2 million girls by 2030.

3. Improve Quality and Retention

• Teacher Training: Mandate annual gender-sensitization and pedagogical training for all teachers, aiming for 60% female teachers in rural schools by 2030.

• Remedial Programs: Expand bridge courses and remedial classes under NPEGEL to improve learning outcomes for girls.

• Life Skills Education: Integrate life skills and vocational training in curricula to enhance employability and reduce early marriage.

4. Leverage Technology

• Digital Access: Provide subsidized devices and internet connectivity to rural girls through public-private partnerships.

• E-Learning Platforms: Scale up DIKSHA and SWAYAM to deliver tailored content for girls, including STEM courses.

• Hybrid Learning: Promote blended learning models to support girls unable to attend regular schools.

5. Community and Parental Engagement

• Awareness Campaigns: Intensify BBBP campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms and promote girls’ education.

• Incentives: Expand scholarships and conditional cash transfers to encourage retention, modeled on Bangladesh’s stipend programs.

• Women’s Collectives: Strengthen Mahila Samakhya to empower mothers as advocates for girls’ schooling.

6. Address Social Barriers

• Combat Early Marriage: Enforce the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, with community-based monitoring to delay marriage until age 18.

• Caste and Minority Inclusion: Target SC/ST and minority girls with tailored interventions, including scholarships and mentorship programs.

• Role Models: Promote successful women as ambassadors to inspire families and communities.

7. Monitor and Evaluate Progress

• Data-Driven Approach: Use AI and data analytics to track enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes, with disaggregated data for girls.

• Independent Audits: Conduct annual third-party evaluations of Samagra Shiksha and NEP 2020 initiatives to ensure accountability.

• Global Benchmarks: Align with UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report standards to meet SDG 4 targets.

8. Public-Private Partnerships

• Corporate Involvement: Partner with tech companies to provide digital infrastructure and STEM training for girls.

• NGO Collaboration: Leverage NGOs like Pratham to scale up community-based learning programs.

• International Support: Seek funding from UNICEF and World Bank to support girls’ education initiatives in rural areas.

By implementing these strategies, India can achieve 100% enrollment and retention of girls in elementary education by 2030, ensuring equitable access and quality learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Girls’ education is a catalyst for India’s social and economic progress, yet systemic barriers like poverty, patriarchy, and regional disparities continue to limit access and quality. The NEP 2020 and Samagra Shiksha have laid a strong foundation, with initiatives like KGBVs, NPEGEL, and BBBP driving significant progress. As of 2025, near gender parity in enrollment is a notable achievement, but challenges in retention, learning outcomes, and implementation persist. Despite efforts by the government and NGOs, India’s lag in girls’ education underscores the need for stronger coordination, increased investment, and targeted interventions. By adopting a multi-faceted approach—strengthening policy implementation, enhancing infrastructure, leveraging technology, and engaging communities—India can turn the promise of universal girls’ education into reality by 2030. As Jean Drèze and Amartya Sen (1995) emphasize, addressing gender inequality is central to India’s development. Investing in girls’ education with urgency and commitment will empower half the population, fostering a just, equitable, and prosperous nation.