Transgender Student Enrolment Soars Across India: A Promising Shift Towards Inclusivity

As of August 1st, 2025, India has experienced a notable increase in the enrolment of transgender students across its education system. According to data shared by the Ministry of Education, the number of transgender students enrolled in schools rose from just 155 in the 2021-22 academic year to 965 in the current 2023-24 school year, marking a more than six-fold increase in just two years.

The states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have recorded the highest school enrolments, with 327 and 282 transgender students respectively in 2023-24. However, not all states have seen this upward trend. Rajasthan witnessed a decline from 107 students in 2021-22 to 77 in the current year, while West Bengal recorded a steep drop from 211 to 62 between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

The positive momentum extends to higher education as well. The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) data shows that the number of transgender students enrolled in colleges and universities increased from 302 in 2020-21 to 1,448 in the provisional 2022-23 academic year. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 369 students, followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.

While the rise in enrolment is encouraging, officials and education experts emphasize that sustained efforts are needed to ensure retention and support for transgender students. Many states still report negligible or zero enrolment, including Ladakh, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep. The Ministry of Education has acknowledged the need for inclusive educational frameworks and has called for institutional and policy interventions to bridge regional disparities and ensure that transgender learners can access and thrive in the system.