The document discusses gender inequality in higher education in India. It provides data on enrollment in higher education from 1955-1956 to 2019-2020 which shows that while the percentage of women in higher education has increased from 14.6% to 49.09% over this period, the progress has been marginal. Although more girls are attending college now compared to boys, gender inequality still persists in higher education when compared to men. The government has introduced several initiatives to promote female education and achieve parity but more efforts are still needed especially in the fields of science, technology and decision making.

1. Economics presentation
BY
VIVEK RAJ MISHRA
PRESENTATION ON-
GENDER INEQUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

2. INTRODUCTION
 Gender Inequality is a Legal, social and cultural situation in
which sex and/or gender determine different rights and dignity for
men and women.
 Gender inequality in India refers to the health, education,
economic and political inequalities between men and women in
India.
 Gender Inequality in education is a persistent problem within the
Indian society, especially for the girls, belonging to economically
weaker sections of the society.

3. Research Methodology
(Secondary Data)
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT GENDER INEQUALITY
IN HIGHER EDUCATION?
 Societal attitudes to women which discourage their participation in
decision-making.
 Their lower enrolments in higher education to date (although here,
patterns are rapidly changing in all regions).
 The absence of a gender dimension in the higher education curriculum.
 Family attitudes.
 Poor access to education, especially sociological, psychological,
anthropological and historical areas of higher education.

4. ANALYSIS
Women Higher Education in last 7 decades (Source: AISHE reports of various years)
YEAR MEN(000’S) WOMAN(000’S) TOTAL ENROLMENT Women as (%) of all
students
1955-56 252 43 295 14.6
1960-61 468 89 557 16
1965-66 849 218 1067 20.4
1970-71 1563 391 1954 20
1975-76 2131 595 2726 24.5
1980-81 2003 749 2752 27.2
1985-86 2512 1059 3571 29.6
1990-91 2986 1439 4425 32.5
1995-96 4235 2191 6426 34.10
2000-01 4988 3012 8001 37.6
2005-06 6562 4466 11028 40.5
2010-11 16173 13010 29184 45
2015-16 18594 15990 34584 46
2016-17 18995 16710 35705 46.8
2017-18 19200 17442 36642 47.6
2018-19 19200 18189 37400 48.6
2019-20 19600 18900 38500 49.09

5. OBSERVATION
According to the data mentioned above:-
 Total enrolment in higher education has been estimated to be 38.5 million
with 19.6 million boys and 18.9 million girls. Girls constitute 49.08% of
the total enrolment.
 As we seen in data, In 1955-56 the presence of women (of total student) in
higher education was 14.6% and since there it is continuously increasing year
to year and now(2019-20) it is 49.08 (Approx. 50%).
 A total rise of 34.49% was observed during the period which is really
marginal.
 Women's enrolments have improved and may even very closer those of men.
 Although having an increase in enrolments rate, the gender inequality in
higher education still exists when compared with that of men.

6. Conclusion
The country has seen a phase where women were subjected to the household work
and were considered as passive citizens. The government initiated many action plans
accompanied by the revolutionists that helped the conditions to improve. The data
presented above depicts that education rate of girls of younger age has increased but
these changes are only marginal. The GER for women in India in 2019-20 was 27.3% as
compared to 26.4% for men. This means that more eligible women as compared to
men are attending colleges and universities in India. The government also has to work
in the fields of Science, technology as well as the decision making bodies awarding
parity and upcoming opportunities for women. The new era promises bigger
opportunities for women by changing the concept of gender roles in the society.
Many incentives and opportunities have been provided by the GOI to persuade
women for higher education and job opportunities to bring a balance between the
men and women in the field of work and education.

7. LEGAL REFRENCES
The Constitution of India not only grants equality to women but also
empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favor of
women for neutralizing the socio-economic, educational and political
disadvantages that they could be facing.
 Article 14 confers on men and women equal rights and opportunities in the
political, economic and social spheres.
 Article 15 prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the grounds of
religion, race, caste, sex etc.
 Article 15(3) makes a special provision enabling the State to make affirmative
discriminations in favor of women.
 Article 39(a) further mentions that the State shall direct its policy towards
securing all citizens, men and women, equally, the right to means of livelihood.
Above all, the Constitution imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen
through Articles 51(A)(e) to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity
of women.

8. Opinion
 We should spread social awareness to promote need of female higher
education.
 In rural area, spread awareness towards parents to remove stereo type
mindset that only boys should got higher education.
 Countries should monitor their progress to gender equality in education
program.
 State should increase number of girls colleges so that girls feel safe and
continue there education.
 Country should give some appreciation gift as Bihar gov. Gives 50000
rupees to every girl after her completion of Higher education.
Through these various initiatives of the government, there has been an
overall increase in the enrolment of women in higher education.

9. SOURCES
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality_in_India
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322568885_Gender_inequality_in_hi
gher_education_in_Indian_context
 https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/statistics-
new/aishe_eng.pdf
 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/higher-education-
witnesses-rise-of-11-4-in-student-enrolment-aishe-2019-20-
report/articleshow/83402729.cms
 https://eige.europa.eu/thesaurus/terms/1182
 https://aishe.gov.in/aishe/home
 https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/enhancing-gender-equality-in-india-
s-higher-education-opinion/story-CuQKoLDc4ujMGPScy4ejJI.html