NEW DELHI: National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on 24th January in India to emphasize on the rights, education, health, nutrition and overall well-being of girl children. Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in 2008, the day provides a platform to raise awareness about gender discrimination, promote equal opportunities, and create an environment where girls can thrive as empowered citizens. It underlines the vital role girls play in building a brighter and more equitable future for the nation. This initiative effectively aligns with India’s vision of women-led development and a developed India by 2047.
ADVOCACY FOR EMPOWERING GIRLS
National Girl Child Day provides an important opportunity to address the inequalities that girls continue to faceāsuch as gender discrimination, female foeticide, challenges related to the child sex ratio, child marriage, and barriers to access to education and health. Furthermore, the day emphasizes the need to transform societal thinking and give equal importance and respect to girls, thereby promoting their holistic development.
Its key focus areas include advancing girls’ education, skill development, digital inclusion, participation in SETM sectors, mental health support, protection from violence, and opportunities for leadership roles. Through sustained efforts, especially under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, significant progress has been made. The national sex ratio at birth (SRB) is expected to increase from approximately 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24.
Additionally, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls at the secondary level (classes 9-10) in India is projected to increase from 75.51 percent in 2014-15 to 78.0 percent in 2023-24. Furthermore, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls at the secondary level is projected to reach 80.2 percent in 2024-25.
This increasing trend reflects the high participation of girls and the impact of initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Samagra Shiksha. It underscores the continued efforts to strengthen girls’ access to secondary education, amidst the pervasive challenges in retention and transition.
MAJOR GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The Government of India has implemented several targeted schemes for the protection, education, and empowerment of girls, many of which are integrated under Mission Shakti. This mission integrates various interventions related to safety, security, and empowerment.
MISSION SHAKTI
Mission Shakti was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2022 (effective April 1, 2022) as an integrated umbrella scheme for the 15th Finance Commission period (2025-26). The scheme consolidates interventions related to the safety, security, and empowerment of women and comprises two major sub-schemes:
- Sambal: (Focused on safety and security, including One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalats)
- Samarthya: (Focused on empowerment including Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Palna, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas and Sankalp Hub.
The mission promotes coordination across government departments, citizen participation, and life-cycle-based collaboration to enable women and girls to advance as equal partners in nation-building. The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated Rs 3,150 crore for Mission Shakti.
Complementing these efforts, strong legal frameworks have also been implemented to ensure the protection of children and prevent gender-based violence.
FACILITATING EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Recognizing that education is the foundation of gender equality and long-term empowerment, several major schemes have been launched to address the enrolment gap for girls, enhance learning outcomes, and provide opportunities in STEM and professional fields.
PROGRESS IN SCHOOL EDUCATION FOR GIRLS:
- A total of 11,93,34,162 girls were enrolled in schools from primary to secondary level in the year 2024-25.
- A total of 14,21,205 schools reported availability of toilets for girls, of which 13,72,081 are functional.
HOLISTIC EDUCATION
Launched by the Ministry of Education in 2018, this integrated scheme for school education (from element-education to Class XII) subsumes earlier schemes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. It is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and focuses on bridging gender and social category gaps through targeted interventions such as separate toilets for girls, scholarships for children with special needs (CWSN), gender-sensitive teaching materials, and teacher sensitization programs. Samagra Shiksha emphasizes inclusive quality education, foundational literacy/statistis skills, and vocational exposure, ensuring equal opportunities for girls from disadvantaged sections.
KASTURBA GANDHI BALIKA VIDYALAYA (KGBV)
KGBVs provide residential education to girls aged 10-18 years from disadvantaged communities (SC / ST / OBC / minority / BPL families). These schools offer education from grades VI to XII and are located in educationally backward blocks. Upgraded under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, KGBVs ensure smooth and consistent transition of girls from primary / secondary level to higher secondary level.
SAVE THE GIRL CHILD, EDUCATE THE GIRL CHILD (BBBP)
The flagship scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), launched in Haryana in 2015 (celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025 through national-level activities), has already achieved over a decade of impact. The scheme has now been integrated into the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti and expanded to all districts. The main objective of BBBP is to prevent gender-biased fetal selection, ensure the survival and safety of girls, and promote education. The scheme has improved the sex ratio at birth (SRB), increased girl child enrollment in secondary education, improved access to healthcare, and promoted community-level behavior change through multi-sectoral campaigns and collaboration with NGOs and the media.
FLIGHT
Udaan is an innovative initiative launched in 2014 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the guidance of the Ministry of Education. The project specifically targets the problem of low enrollment of girls in premier engineering colleges. It aims to bridge the gap between school-level education and the requirements of engineering entrance exams (such as the JEE).
This initiative provides free online resources, including study materials, video tutorials, virtual classrooms, and weekend outreach sessions. This flagship initiative aims to empower girls in grades XI and XII, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to prepare effectively and increase their participation in STEM higher education.
The scheme is in line with the national goals of promoting gender equality in technical education and inclusive growth, especially in underserved and tribal areas. The initiative covers 27 districts across 19 states, and aims to train 3,850 adolescent girls up to the higher secondary level in non-traditional areas such as digital marketing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled services, and green jobs under PMKVY 4.0.
VIGYAN JYOTI YOJANA
The Vigyan Jyoti Scheme, implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), encourages meritorious girls (especially from rural areas) in grades IX-XII to pursue STEM fields. Activities include mentoring, lab visits, workshops, role model interactions, science camps, and educational support. Since its inception, the Vigyan Jyoti program has supported over 50,000 meritorious girls from 300 districts across 35 states and union territories.
SCHOLARSHIP FOR GIRLS
The Government of India has implemented several targeted scholarship schemes to promote girls’ education, reduce dropout rates and support gifted students at secondary, higher and technical education levels.
ENROLMENT OF WOMEN IN STEM SUBJECTS
To boost women’s enrollment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), additional seats for women have been introduced at IITs and NITs. This model has improved gender diversity at other higher education institutions across the country.
UGC NET-JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
This fellowship is awarded for pursuing a Ph.D. in all disciplines, including STEM education. During FY 2023-24, of the total 12,325 scholars in STEM disciplines, 6,435 are women, representing over 50%.
During 2023-24, out of a total of 13,727 scholars in STEM subjects, 7,293 are women, which is more than 53% of the total fellows.
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students was implemented on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) in 2023-24. It provides support to graduate students pursuing regular, full-time programs by merging four existing schemes: PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders; PG Scholarship for GATE/GPAT Qualified Students for M.Tech/ME/M.Pharm; PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates; and PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child.
A merit list is prepared for 10,000 seats, of which 30% are reserved for women (3,000 selected), following the Government of India’s reservation criteria. Seats are divided equally between STEM subjects (50%) and humanities (50%), and scholars receive Rs 1,50,000 annually for the duration of the program. Students are awarded Rs 1,50,000 per year for the duration of the program.
According to the AISHE report, female postgraduate enrolment increased significantly from 2014-15 to 2022-23. It increased from 15,66,296 to 32,02,550, representing a total increase of 12,16,654 students and a growth rate of 61.3%.
ENROLLMENT OF WOMEN IN PHD DEGREES
According to the AISHE report, between 2014-15 and 2022-23, PhD enrollment among women has seen a significant increase. Female PhD enrollment increased from 47,717 in 2014-15 to 1,12,441 in 2022-23, representing a total increase of 64,724 candidates and an increase of approximately 135.6%.
IMPROVING GENDER EQUALITY IN INDIAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Between 2014-15 and 2022-23 (provisional), India has seen significant growth in higher education institutions (HEIs). The number of HEIs registered in the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) increased from 51,334 in 2014-15 to 60,360 in 2022-23. During the same period, student enrolment in higher education also saw a substantial increase, from 34.2 million in 2014-15 to 44.6 million in 2022-23. Significantly, female enrolment has increased significantly, from 15.7 million in 2014-15 to 21.8 million in 2022-23, a 38% increase. The female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has also improved, rising from 22.9 in 2014-15 to 30.2 in 2022-23 (provisional), demonstrating continued progress towards gender equality in higher education. Furthermore, India has achieved one of the highest rates of female participation in STEM education in the world, with women accounting for 43% of total enrolments in STEM subjects.
ENSURING THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF EVERY GIRL CHILD
The government prioritizes a safe and nurturing environment for every girl child through comprehensive laws against abuse and child marriage. Central interventions in this area include the following:
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act ensure comprehensive protection for children. POCSO is a gender-neutral law that considers anyone under the age of 18 as a child and criminalizes sexual abuse, assault, and child pornography. It includes child-friendly procedures, mandatory reporting requirements, and the establishment of special courts to ensure speedy justice.
CHILD MARRIAGE PROHIBITION ACT: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 replaced the older Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (Sharda Act). This Act focuses on legally prohibiting child marriages, rather than merely preventing them, while also providing robust protection and relief to those affected. The Act provides a legal basis for empowering girls, protecting their right to education and health, and helping to mitigate the serious risks associated with early marriageāsuch as disruption of education, health complications, and limited opportunities. Under this Act, child marriages can be annulled at the will of the party who was a child at the time of marriage.
Child Marriage Free 2030: The Government of India, under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched the Child Marriage Free India Campaign in November 2024, based on the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. This national initiative focuses on widespread awareness, law enforcement, community engagement, and multi-sectoral cooperation to end child marriage.
The campaign is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.3, which aims to eliminate all harmful practices such as child marriage, early marriage, and forced marriage by 2030. Aimed at reducing the prevalence of child marriage by 10% by 2026 and achieving a child marriage-free India by 2030, the campaign includes a dedicated portal for reporting and awareness, district-level monitoring, awards for high-performing areas, and a 100-day intensive campaign phase (starting in December 2025).
SCHEME FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS (SAG): The scheme specifically targets adolescent girls aged 14-18 years in nationally designated aspirational districts and all districts in the Northeastern states. The scheme aims to improve the health and nutritional status of adolescent girls. The scheme has two major components.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE SCHEME (MHS): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched this scheme with the aim of promoting menstrual hygiene among girls aged 10-19 years in rural areas. The main objective of this scheme is to create awareness among adolescent girls about safe and hygienic menstrual practices.
NUTRITION CAMPAIGN: Launched on March 8, 2018, in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, the campaign aims to improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 0-6 years. Through technology-based monitoring, multi-sectoral coordination, and community participation, the program aims to reduce stunting, malnutrition, and underweight in children. It takes a holistic approach to addressing malnutrition.
