Girls' Enrolment Inches Up to 48.4%, Female Teachers Cross 54% Mark: UDISE+ Report
The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report for 2025-26, released by the Union Ministry of Education on July 7, 2026, indicates a marginal rise in girls' enrolment in schools across India. The report shows that girls now constitute 48.4 per cent of total school enrolment, up from 48.3 per cent in the previous academic year.
The increase, though modest, continues a slow upward trend. Over the past three academic years, girls' enrolment stood at 48.0 per cent in 2022-23, 48.1 per cent in 2023-24, and 48.3 per cent in 2024-25. The latest figure represents a rise of 0.4 percentage points since 2022-23.
The Ministry of Education said the incremental progress reflects ongoing efforts to improve gender equity in school education and ensure better access and participation for girls at all levels.
The report also highlights a steady increase in the proportion of female teachers. Women now make up 54.9 per cent of the school teaching workforce, compared to 52.3 per cent in 2022-23. The share rose to 53.3 per cent in 2023-24 and 54.2 per cent in 2024-25 before reaching the current level.
The growing presence of women teachers is seen as a positive development for creating inclusive and gender-sensitive learning environments, according to the report.
Additionally, the UDISE+ 2025-26 report notes a continued decline in school dropout rates, particularly at the preparatory and secondary levels, compared to previous years. The comprehensive report covers enrolment, teachers, infrastructure, and other key indicators of school education across the country.
