India’s Girls Outperform Boys in Education, Excel in Exams and Careers: Government Report

New Delhi, December 26, 2025: Girls in India are steadily outperforming boys across academics, competitive exams, and teaching careers, according to a recent government report. From board examinations and NEET to UPSC, female students consistently achieve higher scores than their male counterparts. The Ministry of Education is now considering increasing seats for girls in STEM courses to further support their growing success.

Board Exam Performance

The Department of School Education and Literacy analyzed results from 66 education boards for the 2024–25 academic year. In Class 12, out of 8 million students scoring 60% or higher, 4.28 million were girls compared to 3.72 million boys. In Class 10, 9.2 million students scored above 60%, with girls outnumbering boys at 4.8 million to 4.4 million.

High-achieving girls are also increasingly topping the charts, with a rising percentage securing 90–95% and above marks each year. In the Science stream, the number of girls passing has risen from 23.3 lakh in 2022 to 28.1 lakh in 2024.

Competitive Exams and STEM Focus

Girls also dominate UPSC and NEET toppers lists, reflecting their strong performance in the country’s toughest exams. The government is now focusing on expanding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) course seats for female students to encourage more participation in high-demand fields.

Rising Female Teachers

According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), India now has 101.2 lakh teachers in schools, with 54.8 lakh being women. Female teachers now outnumber male teachers in many schools, improving the student-teacher ratio (PTR) and positively impacting overall education quality.

The proportion of female students in schools has also risen to 48.3%, highlighting a positive trend in gender parity in education. Secretary of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar, noted that girls not only perform better academically but also have lower dropout rates, particularly in the 14–18 age group, compared to boys.

This report underscores the remarkable progress of girls in education, from academic excellence to professional aspirations, signaling a promising future for women across India.