Lok Sabha Question No. 3459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Integrated Gender Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3459 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Integrated Gender Education

3459. Ms. S Jothimani:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  introduce  any  programmes  to  integrate  gender education into school and college curricula in the country;

(b) if so, the details of such initiatives;

(c) the details of steps taken to promote gender sensitization among teachers and students at the primary, secondary and higher education levels;

(d) whether the Government is planning to conduct awareness campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes in educational institutions and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has conducted any national-level studies or assessments on the impact of gender education in reducing gender discrimination and violence; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (f)  National Education Policy, at para 6.20, provides, students will be sensitized through this  new  school  culture,  brought  in  by  teachers,  trained  social  workers  and  counsellors  as  well  as through corresponding changes to bring in an inclusive school curriculum. The school curriculum will include,  early  on,  material  on  human  values  such  as  respect  for  all  persons,  empathy,  tolerance, human rights, gender equality, non-violence, global citizenship, inclusion, and equity. It would also include more detailed knowledge of various cultures, religions, languages, gender identities, etc. to sensitize and develop respect for diversity. Any biases and stereotypes in school curriculum will be removed, and more material will be included that is relevant and relatable to all communities.

Further, NEP 2020, at para 6.14, provides that the awareness and knowledge of how to teach children with specific disabilities (including learning disabilities) will be an integral part of all teacher education programmes, along with gender sensitization and sensitization towards all underrepresented groups in order to reverse their underrepresentation.

As a  follow-up  of  NEP  2020,  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training (NCERT) has developed the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCFFS),  2022  and  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  School  Education  (NCF-SE),  2023. NCERT has also constituted Curricular Area Groups to undertake the development of syllabi and textbooks for school education. NCERT has integrated gender concerns into all its newly developed textbooks, from the foundational stage to the middle stage. The NCERT has made every  attempt  to  remove  gender  biases  and  stereotypes  in  the  school  curriculum  and  has introduced  gender-sensitive  materials  in  age-appropriate  grades.  The  textbooks,  such  as Mridang,  Shehnai,  Sarangi,  Joyful  Mathematics,  Curiosity,  Exploring  Society:  India  and Beyond,  Khel  Yog,  Khel  Yatra,  and  other  textbooks,  include  content  and  visuals  that  are gender-sensitive and represent women, girls, and transgender individuals in unconventional roles and alternative professions.

NCERT  has  developed  Teacher  Training  Material  titled  Training  Material  for  Teacher Educators  on  Gender  Equality  and  Empowerment,  published  in  three  volumes:  Vol.  I: Perspectives on Gender and Society, Vol. II: Gender and Schooling Processes, and Vol. III: Gender  and  Women's  Empowerment.  Many  of  the  themes  resonate  with  the  concerns highlighted in NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. Some of the themes covered include Textbook Pedagogy  and  Gender  Concerns,  Creating  Gender-Friendly  Classrooms,  Mental  Health  of Adolescent Girls, Life Skills Education in Schools, Gender and Violence, Nurturing Sports and Physical Education for Girls and Women, and other related topics.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) regularly organizes training programmes for teachers on gender sensitivity as part of in-service courses, workshops, and orientation programmes. Students participate in activities such as debates, essay competitions, poster-making, Nukkad Natak  (street  plays),  and  celebration  of  International  Women's  Day,  etc.,  to  promote awareness. Self-defence training is imparted for all students of middle and secondary level. University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  notified  UGC  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational

Institutions)  Regulations,  2015,  which  are  statutory  in  nature  and  therefore,  binding  on Universities and Colleges. SAKSHAM Portal, developed to empower women by providing support and information on redressal mechanisms, and promoting gender justice and equality. UGC has provided a toll-free number (1800-111-656) for registering  grievances related to women and sexual harassment.

The  guidelines  titled  'Basic  Facilities  and  Amenities  for  a  Safe,  Secure  Environment  for Women  and  Women  Cells  (for  sensitization,  policy  implementation,  monitoring,  and grievance redressal) in Higher  Educational Institutions (HEIs)' issued  by  the  UGC, emphasize  that  providing  a  safe,  secure,  and  violence-free  environment,  particularly  for women students, is the utmost responsibility of institutions.

The  Orientation  and  Sensitization  Programme  conducted  under  Malaviya  Mission  Teacher Training  Programme  (MMTTP),  aims  to  orient  and  sensitize  faculty  members  in  Higher Educational  Institutions  (HEIs).  The  themes  of  the  programme  include,  Gender  Studies, Gender  equality,  Caste,  Class,  Gender  in  the  classroom:  examining  bias  in  curriculum, textbooks etc.

The National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) Module 16: 'Relevance of Gender Dimensions in Teaching and Learning Process' addresses gender  concerns  in  school  education.  Recently,  Department  of  Gender  Studies,  NCERT conducted a one-day sensitization program on integrating transgender concerns in schooling processes on 4 th June, 2025 for teachers and faculty from KVS, District Institute of Education and Training (DIETs), State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), and Regional  Institute  of  Education  (RIEs)  of  Ajmer,  Bhopal,  Bhubaneswar,  Mysore,  and Shillong.

The NCERT has conducted a national-level study titled "Impact Assessment Study of Select Initiatives  of  Government  of  India  for  Prevention  of  Child  Sexual  Abuse  and  Gender Equality" in the year 2021-23. The study was conducted in nine states of India viz. Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Goa, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Manipur.

****