Lok Sabha Question No. 2310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Gender Disparity in Number of Faculties in Higher Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## 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 categories

in 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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