Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Girls' Education in India Ends Early
A new study found that many girls in five Indian states are not going to school.
The biggest problem is in Bihar, where over 5,000 girls are not attending school.
The Right to Education Act only guarantees free schooling up to age 14, so older girls often drop out.
Many schools have also closed or merged, making it harder for children to go to school.
Some girls drop out because of early marriage, poor economic conditions, or safety concerns.
The study suggests that the government should change the law to include education for girls up to age 18 and provide more support to keep them in school.
10,474 girls aged 6-18 are not attending school in five Indian states.
Bihar has the highest number of out-of-school girls (5,781).
The Right to Education Act only guarantees free schooling up to age 14.
School closures and mergers have affected around 5.3 lakh children.
Barriers to education include early marriage, economic conditions, and safety concerns.
- Who
- Girls aged 6-18 in five Indian states
- What
- High dropout rates and barriers to education
- When
- 2025 study based on 2019-2025 data
- Where
- Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
- Why
- Socio-cultural factors, economic conditions, and lack of government programs for older children
- Number of out-of-school girls
- 10,474
- States surveyed
- Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
- Highest dropout state
- Bihar (5,781 girls)
- RTE Act coverage
- Up to age 14
- Schools closed/merged (2019-2025)
- 32,500
- Children affected by school closures
- 5.3 lakh
- Drop in enrolment due to closures
- 7.2%
