Enrolment of girls in engineering up by 23k after govt waives fees

PUNE: Engineering colleges in Maharashtra have recorded a sharp rise in the number of female students, with enrolment increasing by 23,561 over the last three years.

Officials attribute the surge to the state govt’s decision to provide a full tuition and examination fee waiver for girls from families with an annual income of up to Rs 8 lakh. The scheme was introduced from the 2024–25 academic year and covers engineering, medical education, pharmacy, agriculture, technical education and other professional courses.

Data from the State Common Entrance Test (CET) cell shows a steady increase in the number of girls opting for engineering. In the academic year 2023–24, 38,634 girls enrolled in engineering courses, accounting for 32.7 per cent of admissions. The figure rose to 52,751 students or 35.4 per cent in 2024–25 and to 62,195 in 2025–26, taking their share to 37.3 per cent.

State director of higher education Shailendra Deolankar said govt is working to increase the proportion of girls in higher education to 50 per cent.

“Under the guidance of higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, a 100 per cent fee waiver has been introduced for girls seeking admission to professional courses. At the same time, in line with the National Education Policy, greater emphasis is being placed on skill-based education through academic programmes.

Together, these initiatives have significantly increased the participation of girls in higher education,” he added.

The growth has also been strong in health sciences education. In dentistry, ayurveda and homoeopathy, girls account for 60 to 75 per cent of admissions in many institutions.

The B.Ed programme has consistently recorded a higher share of female students compared to male students over three years.

In the academic year 2023–24, of a total of 30,038 admissions, 22,327 or 74.3 per cent were girls. In 2024–25, they accounted for 24,704 of the 33,064 admissions, representing 74.7 per cent. In the ongoing academic year 2025–26, the trend continues with 24,756 of the total 33,877 admissions, or 73 per cent, being female students. The overall percentage has declined slightly, but girls continue to dominate B.Ed. education.

Vishwas Kendale, a retired official from the higher education department, said, “The initiative has created significant opportunities for girls from rural and lower middle-class families to pursue higher education. Enrolment of girls in professional education programmes across the state has thus increased.”

Engineering aspirant Ashwini Mahale said, “The growing number of women in professional courses, especially in technical fields, is inspiring. The percentage should be equal to or more than men in future. Women in rural areas should take inspiration and continue with higher education.”