The narrative of India's education sector has long been characterized by a widening gap between girls and boys. However, the latest data from the National Statistics Office paints a different picture – one of gradual progress and a tilt in favor of women. The 'women and men in India 2025' report reveals that female gross enrolment ratio (GER) has surpassed male GER at all school stages, with women accounting for 51.48% of total higher education pass-outs. This marks a significant shift in the education landscape, with girls not only matching but exceeding boys in enrolment across primary to higher secondary stages.

The data underscores a generational shift, with the overall literacy gap narrowing sharply to 3.8 percentage points among youth aged 15–24. This reflects faster gains among younger cohorts, with female literacy rising from 30.6% in 1981 to over 70% in recent estimates. While still trailing male literacy levels, this progress is a testament to the effectiveness of targeted interventions and policies aimed at bridging the gender gap.

However, the progress is not uniform across disciplines. Women are concentrated in arts, sciences, social sciences, and medical streams, while men continue to dominate engineering, technology, IT, and management. This persistent segmentation in career pathways highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to education policy and planning.

Learning outcomes show a mixed pattern, with girls consistently outperforming boys in languages and board examination pass percentages. Conversely, boys perform better in mathematics, particularly at higher grades. This dichotomy underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the disparities in learning outcomes.

Despite improvements in access and participation, structural gaps remain. The mean years of schooling for women stands at 7.4 years, compared to an overall average of 8.4 years. This indicates an earlier drop-off in educational attainment, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to bridge the gap. Spending patterns also reflect disparity, with average annual expenditure higher for boys (Rs 13,901) than for girls (Rs 12,101).