Participation of Women in Higher Education in India

Abstract The participation of women in higher education in India has increased significantly over the past few decades, a significant step towards gender equality and human development. The expansion of colleges and universities, supportive government policies and changing societal attitudes have enabled more women to enter higher education. According to the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), women account for almost half of the total enrolment in higher education and their enrolment rates at the undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctoral levels have improved. However, women’s participation is not uniform across all sectors. Women’s participation is concentrated mainly in the arts and social sciences, while their representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields such as engineering and technology is relatively low. Factors such as social norms, safety concerns, early marriage, financial constraints and family responsibilities still affect women’s educational and professional advancement. As a result, women remain underrepresented in research, teaching and academic leadership roles. This paper analyses the factors, challenges, and government policies influencing women's participation in higher education in India, based on secondary data and previous research studies. While reform initiatives implemented under the National Education Policy 2020 have improved women's access and retention in education, achieving real gender equality requires reducing structural barriers and promoting women's long-term educational and professional advancement.