Key Details
The Lok Sabha reply outlines the Government's strategy to improve women's participation in higher education by combining targeted institutional investment, financial assistance and evidence-based planning under NEP 2020.
Key Area | Main Update |
|---|---|
Inclusive education | NEP 2020 prioritises equitable access for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), including women from rural and underserved regions. |
Targeted institutional support | PM-USHA prioritises Focus Districts with low GER, gender disparities and educational backwardness through Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives. |
Financial assistance | UGC and AICTE continue to provide scholarships, fellowships and research support for women across higher education. |
Women in STEM | Budget 2026–27 proposes one girls' hostel in every district to improve women's participation in STEM institutions. |
Evidence of progress | Female enrolment increased from 2.06 crore (2021–22) to 2.23 crore (2023–24), while female GER rose from 28.5 to 31.2. |
Gender parity | Female GER has remained higher than male GER, with the Gender Parity Index consistently above 1 over the past three years. |
Government Is Shifting from Expanding Access to Targeted Inclusion
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on 20 July 2026, the Ministry of Education outlined how the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is being implemented to improve higher education access for women, particularly those from rural and educationally underserved communities.
A central component of this strategy is the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), which directs funding towards State universities and colleges located in Focus Districts identified by low Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), gender disparities and educational disadvantage. Unlike earlier expansion-oriented approaches, PM-USHA uses educational indicators to prioritise investment where participation gaps remain the greatest.
Through its Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives, the scheme seeks to strengthen women's participation in STEM, vocational and professional education while reducing regional disparities in higher education access.
Targeted Investment Supports Women's Participation
The Lok Sabha reply indicates that the Government's strategy increasingly combines institutional investment with financial support to reduce barriers to women's higher education.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) continues to provide postgraduate scholarships and doctoral fellowships, including dedicated support for single girl children, while the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)administers scholarship and fellowship schemes for women pursuing technical education.
Complementing these initiatives, the Union Budget 2026–27 proposes establishing one girls' hostel in every districtto improve access for women pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by addressing one of the major barriers faced by students from rural areas.
Together, these interventions seek to improve not only access but also participation across disciplines where women have historically been underrepresented.
Participation Has Improved, but Outcomes Remain the Next Challenge
The Government's interventions are reflected in recent higher education statistics. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023–24, female enrolment increased from 2.06 crore in 2021–22 to 2.23 crore in 2023–24, while the female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) rose from 28.5 to 31.2.
Over the same period, the female GER remained consistently higher than the male GER, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining above 1, indicating sustained progress in women's participation in higher education.
These trends suggest that India's higher education policy is moving beyond expanding access towards addressing more complex challenges of equity, regional disparities and participation in professional disciplines. Future progress will depend not only on increasing enrolment but also on improving completion rates, expanding opportunities in STEM and ensuring that women from disadvantaged regions successfully transition into employment.
What Is PM-USHA?
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening State higher education institutions. Introduced in 2023 as the successor to the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), it supports equitable access, institutional quality, infrastructure development and governance reforms in State universities and colleges. A key feature of PM-USHA is its focus on educationally underserved districts, where funding is prioritised using indicators such as Gross Enrolment Ratio, gender disparities and educational backwardness.
Policy Relevance
Place-Based Inclusion: PM-USHA directs public investment towards districts facing persistent enrolment gaps, gender disparities and educational disadvantage.
Gender-Responsive Financing: Scholarships, fellowships and hostel infrastructure seek to reduce financial, geographic and social barriers affecting women's higher education.
Women in STEM: Dedicated residential infrastructure and targeted financial support can improve women's participation in science, technology and other professional disciplines.
Data-Driven Planning: Indicators such as the Gross Enrolment Ratio and Gender Parity Index increasingly inform policy prioritisation and resource allocation.
NEP 2020 Implementation: The measures illustrate how the objectives of NEP 2020 are being translated into targeted institutional reforms and investments.
Reducing Regional Disparities: Focusing resources on educationally underserved districts can help narrow long-standing inequalities in higher education access across regions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India ensure that rising female enrolment in higher education translates into sustained participation, successful completion and stronger employment outcomes for women from rural and educationally underserved communities?
Follow the Full Lok Sabha Reply Here: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 20 (20 July 2026): Measures to Promote Higher Education Among Girls from Rural Areas – Ministry of Education