Gender inequalities in right to education in India: a review of access, enrolment, retention and intervention effectiveness

This literature review examines gender disparities in the enforcement of the Right to Education in India, focusing on girls’ access to education, enrolment, and retention. Despite legal guarantees, persistent inequality continues to disadvantage girls, particularly in rural and marginalised communities. Drawing on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies across Indian states, the review analyses gender-based differences, socio-economic and cultural barriers, regional variations, and the effectiveness of policies and interventions. The findings reveal significant gender gaps in secondary school enrolment, intensified by caste, class, geography, poverty, restrictive socio-cultural norms, and inadequate infrastructure. While interventions such as conditional cash transfers and bicycle schemes have shown positive impacts, their effectiveness is often limited by implementation challenges. Regional disparities are pronounced, with the highest gaps observed in northern and eastern India. Overall, the review underscores the multifactorial and intersectional nature of enforcement gaps and highlights the limited capacity of existing policies to fully address them. It calls for large-scale, context-sensitive approaches integrating socio-cultural change, infrastructure development, and stronger policy implementation to advance gender equity in education.