The Government gives utmost priority to the safety, security and empowerment of girls in the country. To this end, the Government has adopted multi-pronged approach to address the educational, social and economic empowerment of girls.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao helps to address Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women. The scheme, launched on 22^nd January 2015, as a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Women & Child Development, Education, and Health and Family Welfare, aims to prevent gender-biased sex selection, ensure the survival and protection of girl children and promote their education. The implementation of the scheme lies with the State Government and UT Administration.

The scheme tries to create mindset and behavioural changes towards the girl child by informing, influencing, motivating, engaging, and empowering various stakeholders. In the 15th Finance Commission Period, BBBP as a component under the SAMBAL vertical of Mission Shakti, has been expanded to cover all the districts of the country through multi-sectoral interventions encouraging greater spend on activities that have on ground impact. BBBP has transformed from a policy initiative into a national movement by mobilizing various stakeholders, including government agencies, media, civil society, and the public at large. BBBP primarily focuses on creating behavioural and social change in the way the girl child is perceived across the country.

As per latest reports of Health Management Information System (HMIS) of Ministry of Health & Family welfare (MoHFW), the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is showing improving trends and has increased from 918 to 929 at national level during 2014-15 to 2025-26 (provisional).

Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, vocational education is implemented from Classes VI to XII in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, with a focus on enhancing employability and providing equitable access to skill education for all students, including adolescent girls.

As envisaged under NEP 2020 (Para 16.5), "Vocational education will be integrated in the educational offerings of all secondary schools in a phased manner over the next decade. Skill labs will also be set up and created in the schools in a hub and spoke model which will allow other schools to use the facility."

The scheme promotes the participation of girls in non-traditional and emerging vocational sectors such as Information Technology (IT), Electronics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Automotive, Telecommunications, and other NSQF-aligned job roles, based on local needs and infrastructure.

The programme also provides hands-on training through vocational laboratories, internships, industry exposure and career guidance to encourage girls to pursue STEM-related education and careers. The vocational curriculum is aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and developed in consultation with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and Sector Skill Councils to ensure industry relevance.

Under Samagra Shiksha, till 2025–26, a total of 31,477 schools have been approved for implementation of Vocational Education. Out of these, Skill Education has been implemented in 25,181 schools, benefiting 39,49,875 students. The figures are based on data furnished by the States/UTs as on March 2026.

NEP 2020 and Samagra Shiksha provide for an equitable and inclusive learning environment for empowerment of girls and women. Modern age is driven largely by science, technology and innovation, and the empowerment of girls and women is also linked with the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Accordingly, the scheme encourages girls to acquire skills in STEM and technology-driven sectors, thereby enhancing their participation in future-ready careers. These interventions aim to equip adolescent girls with market-relevant skills, improve their employability and enhance their participation in STEM and other non-traditional occupations.

Education is a subject in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the schools come under jurisdiction of States and UTs concerned. State and UT Governments are the appropriate Governments and have the responsibility to provide infrastructure in schools. Under Samagra Shiksha, the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories for strengthening school education infrastructure including construction and maintenance of separate toilets for Girls based on the gaps identified through the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+) and proposals submitted by the respective State/UT. The requirement of infrastructure including girl’s toilet are assessed annually by the State Government on an incremental basis, based on need and priority.

The Government of India is implementing, Centrally Sponsored Scheme, New India Literacy Programme (NILP) since 2022-23, popularly known as ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. In pursuance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the scheme targets non-literates aged 15 and above. So far, 3,36,52,317 learners have appeared in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT), of whom approximately 2,29,84,292 are women, with an overall success rate of more than 90%. This strong participation of women is contributing significantly to reducing the gender gap in literacy and advancing gender equity in education. As a result of the sustained implementation of the scheme, female literacy in India has increased from 65.46% (Census 2011) to 74.9%, as reported in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, reflecting significant progress in advancing women's literacy and educational inclusion across the country.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question.

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