Girls' Dropout Rate in Secondary School Hits 8% in 2025-26, Still 80 Times Higher Than Primary
Eight out of every 100 girls enrolled in secondary school dropped out before completing their education in 2025–26, according to data from the Ministry of Education tabled in the Lok Sabha this week. The secondary school dropout rate for girls fell to 8 per cent — the lowest in the past three years, down from 12.6 per cent in 2023–24 and 9.6 per cent in 2024–25. However, it remains starkly higher than at the primary level: the secondary dropout rate is nearly 80 times the primary school dropout rate.
The data comes from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), the government’s comprehensive school database. Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary provided the figures in response to a question from MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. The reply breaks down dropout rates across three stages: primary, upper primary, and secondary.
According to the data, household income and domestic chores were cited as among the top reasons for girls leaving school, though the exact breakdown by stage was not provided in the reply. The trend highlights persistent barriers to girls’ education at the secondary level, even as overall dropout rates have declined.
India has made significant strides in primary education, with near-universal enrolment, but retaining girls through secondary school remains a challenge. Government schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the Right to Education Act have helped improve access, but socio-economic factors continue to drive dropouts, particularly in rural areas.
Experts note that the 8 per cent dropout rate, while an improvement, still represents over 800,000 girls leaving school annually. The government has emphasised targeted interventions, including scholarships, separate toilets for girls, and conditional cash transfers, to address the issue.
