India marks National Girl Child Day on January 24 with a renewed focus on the rights, education, health and empowerment of girls, reflecting measurable progress across key social indicators. Instituted in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the day serves as a national reminder of the need to eliminate gender discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for every girl.
Addressing Persistent Gender Challenges
National Girl Child Day highlights long-standing issues such as gender bias, child marriage, female foeticide and barriers to education and healthcare. The day also emphasises the importance of changing social attitudes to recognise girls as equal stakeholders in the country’s future.
Flagship initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have contributed to behavioural change at the community level. Notably, the national Sex Ratio at Birth has improved from about 918 in 2014–15 to 930 in 2023–24, indicating gradual but consistent progress.
Rising Participation in Education
Education remains the cornerstone of girl empowerment. According to official data, the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls at the secondary level has risen steadily, reaching 80.2 per cent in 2024–25. This improvement reflects the impact of focused interventions to enhance access, retention and transition in school education.
Infrastructure has also seen major upgrades. As many as 97.5 per cent of schools across the country are now equipped with girls’ toilet facilities, with the vast majority reported to be functional. During 2024–25, total enrolment of girls from foundational to secondary stages stood at over 11.9 crore.
Mission Shakti and Integrated Support
Launched in 2022, Mission Shakti serves as the umbrella framework for women and girl-centric schemes during the 15th Finance Commission period. It integrates safety, security and empowerment initiatives under two sub-schemes—Sambal and Samarthya—ensuring life-cycle support.
In the Union Budget 2025–26, Mission Shakti received an allocation of Rs. 3,150 crore, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional and grassroots interventions for women and girls.
Expanding Opportunities Beyond Classrooms
Several programmes aim to open pathways in science, technology and vocational skills. Initiatives such as UDAAN and Vigyan Jyoti encourage girls to pursue STEM education, while supernumerary seats for women in IITs and NITs have significantly improved female representation.
Vocational training has also gained momentum through schemes like NAVYA, launched in 2025, which equips adolescent girls with skills in emerging sectors such as digital services, artificial intelligence and green jobs, particularly in aspirational and underserved districts.
Improving Safety, Health and Nutrition
Legal safeguards form a critical pillar of empowerment. Laws such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act provide robust protection mechanisms. As of January 2026, over 2,100 child marriages have been prevented nationwide, supported by a network of more than 60,000 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers.
Health and nutrition initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Scheme for Adolescent Girls and menstrual hygiene programmes address anaemia, malnutrition and menstrual health. Affordable sanitary napkins under government-supported schemes have improved access and awareness, particularly in rural areas.
Towards a Child Marriage-Free India
The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign, launched in 2024, reinforces India’s commitment to eliminating child marriage in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5.3. The campaign combines enforcement, awareness and community mobilisation, with district-level monitoring and targeted action plans.
These efforts are complemented by Mission Vatsalya, which strengthens child protection systems through institutional and non-institutional care, emergency helplines and integrated digital platforms for vulnerable children.
