Executive Summary:
This document addresses gender disparity in faculty positions within Indian higher education. It provides data on the number of female teachers in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and schools, outlines measures taken by the government to address gender disparity in faculty positions, and details initiatives to increase female participation in academia. Data is drawn from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 Provisional and Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE) 2023-24.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Data on Female Teachers:**
* HEIs: 7.37 lakhs female teachers in 60,380 institutions (AISHE 2022-23 Provisional).
* Schools: 52.3 lakhs female teachers in 14,71,891 schools (UDISE 2023-24).
* **Government Measures to Address Vacancies:**
* The UGC addresses filling vacancies at the earliest with Central Universities.
* UGC launched CU-Chayan portal on 02.05.2023 for listing vacancies across all Central Universities.
* Mission Mode recruitment drive initiated in August 2021, intensified in September 2022, resulting in 28,450 recruitments (faculty and non-faculty) in Central Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) by July 2025.
* **Initiatives for Greater Female Participation:**
* Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women (UGC): Financial aid for unemployed women with Ph.D.s.
* Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child: Encourages higher education for single girl children pursuing Ph.D.s.
* Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child: Financial aid for single girl children pursuing post-graduation.
* Pragati Scholarship Scheme: Scholarships for women in polytechnic, engineering, pharmacy, and architecture courses in AICTE-approved institutions (family income < Rs. 8 Lakh per annum).
* UGC fee exemption for women in Central Educational Institutions' exams/interviews.
* Woman representative in Selection Committees (UGC Regulations, 2018).
* Two-year Ph.D. relaxation for women.
* Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave (up to 240 days) during M.Phil./Ph.D.
* Transfer of research data allowed for relocating M.Phil./Ph.D. women scholars.
* **Impact of Initiatives:**
* 135% increase in female Ph.D. enrolment (47,717 in 2014-15 to 1,12,441 in 2022-23 provisional).
* **Teacher Demographics (AISHE 2022-23 Provisional/UDISE 2023-24):**
* HEIs: Male - 9,27,394; Female - 7,36,778; Total - 16,64,172.
* Schools: Male - 45,77,026; Female - 52,30,574; Total - 9,807,600.
* State-wise data available online.
Impact Analysis:
* **Female Students/Scholars:**
* Impact: Increased opportunities for scholarships, fellowships, and fee exemptions, and improved support during M.Phil./Ph.D. programs.
* Action Required: Apply for available scholarships and fellowships; utilize available leave and relocation provisions.
* **Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):**
* Impact: Expected to implement initiatives promoting gender diversity and ensure fair representation in faculty positions.
* Action Required: Adhere to UGC guidelines, fill vacancies (especially reserved categories) in a mission mode, and ensure women representation in selection committees.
* **University Grants Commission (UGC):**
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring the implementation of schemes and regulations aimed at reducing gender disparity.
* Action Required: Continue to promote and oversee the implementation of gender-inclusive policies, monitor vacancy filling, and maintain the CU-Chayan portal.
* **Ministry of Education:**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies and schemes to promote gender equality in higher education.
* Action Required: Monitor the progress of initiatives, provide guidance to HEIs, and make necessary policy adjustments based on outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
All India Survey on Higher Education AISHE: A survey conducted to collect data on various aspects of higher education in India.
Unified District Information System for Education Plus UDISE: A system for collecting and managing data related to school education in India.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
Central Universities: Universities established or incorporated by or under a Central Act.
Indian Institutes of Technology IITs: Autonomous public technical universities of higher education located throughout India.
Indian Institutes of Management IIMs: A group of autonomous public business schools of management education and research in India.
CU-Chayan: A unified recruitment portal launched by UGC to provide a common platform for listing vacancies across all Central Universities.
All India Council for Technical Education AICTE: A statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2310
ANSWERED ON-04/08/2025
Gender Disparity in Number of Faculties in Higher Education
2310. Shri Sudama Prasad:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether less female teachers/faculties are contributing in Higher Education in comparison to
School level as per Report of All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2024 and Unified
District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023-2024;
(b) the appropriate measures taken by the Government to address the gender disparity in faculty
positions in Higher Educational Institutions;
(c) whether the Government is planning to increase female faculty positions at Higher Educational
Institutions across the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the details regarding number of male and female teachers in Central Universities, IITs, IIMs as well
as Government and Private Universities/Schools across the Country, State-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a): As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23(Provisional) and Unified District
Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023-24, total number of female teachers in 60,380
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are 7.37 lakhs and in 14,71,891 Schools are 52.3 lakhs.
(b) to (d): Occurrence and filling up of vacant posts are a continuous process. The vacancies arise due
to retirement, resignation and additional requirements on account of enhanced students’ strength.
However, UGC repeatedly takes up with all the Central Universities, the matter to fill up the vacancies
at the earliest. UGC has also launched a unified recruitment portal i.e., CU-Chayan on 02.05.2023 to
provide a common platform for listing of vacancies/ advertisements/ jobs across all Central
Universities. Under mission mode, in August 2021, the Ministry issued instructions to all Central
Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) to fill vacancies especially those reserved for specific categoriesin a Mission Mode. In September 2022, all CHEIs were once again requested to intensify this Mission
Mode drive to fill all remaining vacancies, especially those in reserved categories. Between September
2022 and July, 2025, a total of 16,507 faculty and 11,943 non faculty, totaling upto 28,450 recruitments
have been made in the CHEIs under this Mission Mode initiative.
A number of initiatives/steps have been taken by the Government to increase the gender
diversity in academic positions. More Female participation in higher levels of education has been
envisaged through various Schemes/Scholarships/Fellowships and proactive measures aimed at
Female students/scholars. This in turn translates into more candidates available for academic positions
in Higher Education.
The following initiatives/welfare measures for greater Female participation and gender
diversity in academic positions are mentioned: -
i. Post-Doctoral fellowship for women by University Grants Commission (UGC)– The
objective of the scheme is to accelerate the talented instincts of the women candidates to
carry out the advanced studies and research. The financial assistance is provided to
unemployed women candidates holding Ph.D. Degree.
ii. Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child- The objective of the scheme is
to encourage higher education of single girl child pursuing Ph.D. in any stream/subjects.
iii. Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child- The objective of the scheme
is to provide financial assistance to selected candidates being Single Girl Child for pursuing
post-graduation on full time/regular basis in Universities/Institutes/Colleges in India.
iv. Pragati Scholarship Scheme: - The scheme provides scholarship for women students
pursuing polytechnic, engineering, pharmacy and architecture courses (in All India Council
for Technical Education [AICTE] approved institutions), whose family income is less than
Rs. 8 Lakh per annum.
v. UGC has exempted women candidates from payment of fees to any examinations/ Test/
Interview conducted by Centrally Educational Institutions, to increase the representation of
women in employment under Central Government/ Central Autonomous Bodies.
vi. Further, there is a provision for a woman representative in Selection Committees, as per
UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other
Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges, 2018.
vii. The UGC has allowed a relaxation of two years for Ph.D. for women.
viii. Women candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave once in the entire
duration of M.Phil./Ph.D. for up to 240 days.
ix. In case of relocation of an M.Phil./ Ph.D. woman scholar due to marriage or otherwise, the
research data shall be allowed to be transferred to the University to which the scholar
intends to relocate provided the research work does not pertain to a project sanctioned to
the parent Institution/Supervisor by any funding agency.The above initiatives of the Government have facilitated a tremendous increase of 135% in
Female Ph.D.’s enrolment, from 47,717 in 2014-15 to 1,12,441 in 2022-23(provisional) as per AISHE.
This would provide more opportunities for women for academic positions in Higher Education.
(e): The number of male and female teachers in all HEIs as per AISHE 2022-23(provisional) is as
follows:
Male Female Total
9,27,394 7,36,778 16,64,172
The number of male and female teachers in all Schools as per (UDISE+) 2023-24 is as follows:
Male Female Total
45,77,026 52,30,574 9,807,600
State-wise number of male and female teachers in HEIs & Schools is available at
https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques
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