Girls Outperform in Class 12 Board Exams 2024: India’s secondary education landscape has seen a remarkable shift over the past decade, with a sharp increase in the number of students scoring above 60% in Class 12 board exams. According to the latest Ministry of Education data, this improvement is most prominent among female students and marginalised communities, marking a significant stride towards bridging the gender and social gap in education.
In 2013, 43.1 lakh students scored more than 60% in their Class 12 exams. By 2024, this number jumped to 80 lakh—an 85.8% rise. The surge is driven largely by girls, whose numbers in the top bracket nearly doubled from 21.9 lakh in 2013 to 42.8 lakh in 2024. Additionally, more girls are now choosing the science stream, surpassing arts for the first time, reflecting changing academic aspirations.
| Key Details | Statistics / Highlights |
|---|---|
| Total students scoring >60% (2013) | 43.1 lakh |
| Total students scoring >60% (2024) | 80 lakh |
| Girls scoring >60% (2013) | 21.9 lakh |
| Girls scoring >60% (2024) | 42.8 lakh |
| Increase in SC girls scoring >60% | 157.8% rise (2.4 lakh to 6.2 lakh) |
| Increase in ST girls scoring >60% | 251.6% rise (60,000 to 2.3 lakh) |
| Science stream pass-outs (2013) | 36.3 lakh |
| Science stream pass-outs (2024) | 61 lakh |
| Girls in science stream (2013) | 13.4 lakh |
| Girls in science stream (2024) | 28.1 lakh |
| SC students pass-outs (2013 vs 2024) | 21.2 lakh → 24.7 lakh |
| ST students pass-outs (2013 vs 2024) | 8.4 lakh → 10.5 lakh |
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Strong Growth in Science Stream and Gender Parity
One of the most notable shifts is the preference for science among girls. For the first time in 2024, more girls cleared the Class 12 exams in the science stream (28.1 lakh) than in arts (27.2 lakh). This is a significant change from 2022, when arts still led with 28.2 lakh girls compared to 23.3 lakh in science.
A senior ministry official commented, “The number of girls passing their Class 12 exams in science subjects has surpassed those in the arts for the first time in 2024. This marks a critical change in career aspirations and opportunities.”
Inclusion of Marginalised Groups Shows Impressive Progress
The progress is more pronounced among students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). SC girls saw a 157.8% jump in high scorers over the 11-year period, while ST girls saw a staggering 251.6% increase. Such data points to the impact of targeted education schemes and increased awareness about STEM opportunities.
What This Means for the Future
With the overall improvement in performance and a growing number of students, especially girls and marginalised groups, opting for science, India’s future workforce is poised to be more skilled and diverse. This shift could lead to better representation in higher education and STEM-related careers.
The Ministry of Education encourages students and parents to continue this momentum by utilising government schemes and career guidance resources to make informed choices.
