Why are more girls now excelling in class 12 Science?

In classrooms across India, a quiet revolution is taking shape—one that’s measured not in protests or policy shifts, but in chemistry equations solved and physics papers passed. While their overall success remains steady year-on-year, what’s truly noteworthy is where their success is now coming from. Well, class 12 girls are making stronger inroads into the science stream year after year—and the numbers say it all. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Education, 28.13 lakh girls cleared class 12 with science in 2024, up from 25.58 lakh in 2023 and 23.3 lakh in 2022. This consistent rise marks more than just academic progress—it reflects a deeper shift in aspirations, access, and ambition.This progress is also closing the gender gap in STEM. Girls now make up 46% of all class 12 science pass-outs, a steady increase from 44% in 2022 and 42% in 2021, as per the MoE report. As more young women step into fields once seen as male-dominated, the trend signals not just academic growth, but a broader transformation in how girls envision their futures.

2023 vs. 2024: How have girls performed in different streams?

A closer look at the year-on-year data reveals a clear reshaping of academic trends among class 12 girls. The trend reflects a steady tilt toward STEM fields, as more girls pursue subjects aligned with high-growth careers in technology, healthcare, and research. In 2024, 28.13 lakh girls passed in the science stream, overtaking 27.23 lakh in arts—a historic reversal from 2022, when arts had 28.2 lakh pass-outs, compared to just 23.3 lakh in science. As per another MoE report released in September 2024, 7.5 lakh more girls passed in arts than in science in 2014, a gap that has gradually narrowed—dropping to 5.48 lakh in 2017, spiking to 7.94 lakh in 2021, and then closing to just 4.03 lakh in 2023. Now, in 2024, science has finally overtaken arts among girls.This growth in science comes alongside a dip in commerce, where the number of girls passing decreased slightly from 8.16 lakh in 2023 to 8.07 lakh in 2024. The year-on-year comparison below highlights a clear rise in STEM success among girls and a steady decline in arts and commerce.

Girls vs. boys: Who performed better in Arts, Science and Commerce?

In the 2024 class 12 exams, boys and girls were nearly neck and neck in overall performance—64.85 lakh boys and 64.44 lakh girls passed, bringing the total to over 1.29 crore students. This reflects a small shift from 2023, when girls had a slight edge with 64.50 lakh passes, compared to 63.34 lakh boys.Science, meanwhile, continues to be the leading stream among boys, with 51% passing in this stream, compared to 44% of girls in 2024. However, the gender gap is steadily narrowing. In 2023, only 39% of girls had cleared science, showing a clear upward trend in their preference for STEM fields.However, arts still sees strong participation from girls, with 42% of them passing in this stream in 2024, compared to 34% of boys. Although this share has dipped from 46% in 2023, it remains a significant portion, even as many girls are now turning toward science.Meanwhile, commerce remained relatively stable, with 13% of boys and 12% of girls passing in the stream in 2024—numbers that are almost unchanged from 2023. The vocational stream continued to see limited interest, with just 2% of students from both genders opting for it.

What’s driving the change?

Behind this shift lies a decade-long push to make STEM education more accessible and aspirational. From 2013 to 2024, the number of girls passing Class 12 with science has more than doubled—from 13.4 lakh to 28.1 lakh, according to the MoE report. This is part of a broader upswing, with total science stream pass-outs (across genders) jumping from 36.3 lakh in 2013 to 61 lakh in 2024.According to School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, the rise in science enrolments can be attributed to improved facilities in schools. “This might be due to improvement in the availability of facilities including subject-wise labs, teachers, ATLs (Atal Tinkering Labs), and smart classes in schools,” he said,reports PTI. The government’s focus on equipping schools with better STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) infrastructure appears to be paying off, especially for female students who now see science as both accessible and aspirational.

Marginalised girls breaking barriers

Long considered a male-dominated domain, the science stream is now being increasingly claimed by young Indian women—especially from marginalized and underrepresented communities—signaling a transformation with far-reaching implications for India’s future workforce, innovation potential, and gender parity in technical fields. The trend becomes even more significant when seen through the lens of social equity. The MoE report notes a dramatic rise in science stream success among girls from marginalised communities. In 2013, just 1.7 lakh girls from these groups passed Class 12 with science. That number surged to 4.1 lakh in 2024. Likewise, Scheduled Tribe (ST) girls saw their science pass-out numbers increase from 60,000 to 1.4 lakh over the same period.This shift not only reflects greater inclusivity in education but also points to the success of government schemes aimed at bridging the gender and social divide in STEM fields.

STEM surge, but what next?

The rising number of girls passing Class 12 in the science stream signals more than just a shift in academic preference—it holds transformative potential for India’s future workforce. As the country aims to become a global leader in innovation, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and green energy, the demand for STEM talent is only set to grow.A future where women comprise a substantial share of engineers, researchers, and tech professionals could reshape industries, promote gender-diverse leadership, and significantly boost economic growth.But success in school is just the first step. To sustain this momentum, it’s crucial to provide continued support through higher education, mentorship, and equitable career opportunities. Without that, the surge in school-level STEM achievement risks falling short of its full promise.