Share of Muslim Enrolment at School Education in India: 2012-13 to 2021-22

A Study Based on UDISEPlus Data at Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Levels

Based on the UDISEPlus data from 2012-13 to 2021-22, an in-depth analysis of Muslim share in enrolment at different levels of school education has been undertaken. Muslim enrolment, both in the absolute and in the percentage form, has been presented at the All-India and State/UT levels.

Muslim Share in Total I-XII Enrolment

Table 6 presents the gender-specific Muslim enrolment and total enrolment at the school education level (Grades I to XII) from 2012-13 to 2021-22, indicating an increase in both but with erratic patterns during this period. The total Muslim enrolment in Grades I to XII reached 36.59 million, the highest recorded between 2013-14 and 2021-22, and the lowest was 31.56 million in 2012-13, which incidentally was during the first year of the unification of DISE & SEMIS, i.e., UDISE.

Between 2020-21 and 2021-22, Muslim enrolment increased from 36.20 million to 36.59 million, showing an increase of 0.39 million, 1.08 percent of the previous year’s enrolment. In the same period, the total enrolment in Grades I to XII at the all-India level increased by 0.19 million, 0.52 percent of the total enrolment in the previous year. Notably, Muslim enrolment has consistently increased from 31.56 million in 2012-13 to 33.31 million in 2016-17, further to 35.00 million in 2019-20, 36.20 million in 2020-21, and 36.59 million in 2021-22. However, the same pattern is not valid for total enrolment.

It was mentioned above that the lowest total enrolment at the all-India level was 254.28 million in 2012-13, while the highest was 260.60 million in 2015-16, followed by a decline to 251.34 million in the subsequent year. In contrast, Muslim enrolment increased in 2016-17 from its previous level. The 2018-19 saw the lowest total enrolment in Grades I to XII at 248.34 million, which increased from 2019-20 to 2021-22. Additionally, it is observed that Muslim enrolment is less erratic than total enrolment, although this pattern is not consistent for all levels, particularly at the primary level of education.

Share of Muslim Enrolment in Primary Enrolment (Grades I-V)

The analysis of the data from 2012-13 to 2021-22, as presented in Tables 6 & 7, indicates that enrolment at the primary level (Grades I to V) is highly erratic for both Muslim and total enrolment. In the current year, 2021-22, there was a decline in the enrolment of Muslim girls in primary classes, from 93,11,571 in the previous year (2020-21) to 92,65,242, representing a decrease of 46,329 students or 0.50 percent lower than the previous year. The total Muslim enrolment in primary classes declined to 1,90,34,508 in 2021-22 from 1,90,80,435 in 2020-21 (45,927, 0.24 percent). The year 2018-19 had the lowest enrolment of Muslim girls (85,85,999) between 2012-13 and 2021-22, while the total Muslim enrolment in primary classes was the highest in 2012-13 (1,91,39,710) and the lowest in 2018-19 (1,75,49,529).

Table 6: Muslim Enrolment: 2012-13 to 2021-22 (All India)
Year	Primary	Upper Primary	Secondary	Hr Secondary	Total: Grades I to XII
2021-22	19034508	9625725	4856833	3074802	36591868
2020-21	19080435	9388548	4916987	2816708	36202678
2019-20	18721016	8995675	4718699	2566182	35001572
2018-19	17549529	8377267	4404320	2258995	32590111
2017-18	17984048	8580862	4321991	2233815	33120716
2016-17	18554694	8594047	4199948	1958374	33307063
2015-16	18631695	8515253	4008147	1990990	33146085
2014-15	18758305	8465583	3837894	1959375	33021157
2013-14	18988724	8325366	3680773	1844794	32839657
2012-13	19139710	7863433	3135465	1422171	31560779
Year	Total Enrolment: 2012-13 to 2021-22  (All India)
	Primary	Upper Primary	Secondary	Hr Secondary	Total: Grades I to XII
2021-22	121842250	66790692	38528631	28579050	255740623
2020-21	122021291	65854199	39006375	26922596	253804461
2019-20	121686703	64873387	38464433	25947160	250971683
2018-19	120230170	64267026	38334571	25506817	248338584
2017-18	122378400	65448222	38480023	24682548	250989193
2016-17	123807892	66079123	38823854	22625448	251336317
2015-16	129122784	67593727	39145052	24735397	260596960
2014-15	130501135	67165774	38301599	23501798	259470306
2013-14	132428440	66471219	37296683	22314314	258510656
2012-13	134784560	64926683	34640103	19923782	254275128

Source: UDISE data, different years.

 Share of Muslim Enrolment in Upper Primary Enrolment (Grades VI-VIII)

At the upper primary level (Grades VI to VIII), the data for 2021-22 shows that Muslim enrollment stands at 96,25,725 out of a total enrollment of 667,90,692, making Muslim students approximately 14.42 percent of the total enrollment at this level, equivalent to the Muslim share in the total population of India in 2011. Out of the total Muslim enrollment at the upper primary level, 48,32,423 are girls, accounting for approximately 50.20 percent of the total enrollment at this level.

Share of Muslim Enrolment in Secondary & Higher Secondary Enrolment (Grades IX-XII)

At the secondary level (Grades IX to X), the data for 2021-22 reveals a total Muslim enrollment of 48,56,833 students, out of which 24,72,842 are Muslim girls, representing approximately 50.91 percent of the total enrollment at the secondary level. Consequently, Muslim students comprise approximately 12.62 percent of the total enrollment at the secondary level.

Analyzing the enrolment at the higher secondary level (Grades XI to XII), the data for 2021-22 indicates that Muslim enrollment stands at 30,74,802 out of a total enrollment of 285,79,050, implying that Muslim students comprise approximately 10.76 percent of the total enrollment at the higher secondary level. Further analysis reveals that girls’ enrollment makes up approximately 5.64 percent of the total enrollment at the higher secondary level.

Overall, the data for 2021-22 shows varying proportions of Muslim students at different levels of education. They make up around 14.42 percent of the total enrollment at the upper primary level, which slightly decreases to approximately 12.62 percent at the secondary level and further declines to approximately 10.76 percent at the higher secondary level. As we move from one level to another, the decrease in the Muslim share highlights the need for continuous efforts to encourage and facilitate their participation in education at all levels.

Table 7: Total Muslim Girls Enrolment: 2012-13 to 2021-22 (All India)

Year	Primary (I-V)	Upper Primary (VI-VIII)	Secondary (IX-X)	Higher Secondary (XI-XII)	Total Girls Enrolment
2021-22	9265242	4832423	2472842	1611841	18182348
2020-21	9311571	4749080	2539899	1468825	18069375
2019-20	9148318	4572261	2444958	1346007	17511544
2018-19	8585999	4264085	2278993	1178292	16307369
2017-18	8795011	4379057	2229605	1160564	16564237
2016-17	9090346	4411010	2181132	1017289	16699777
2015-16	9139234	4372472	2088037	1028440	16628183
2014-15	9196234	4358513	1985850	996308	16536905
2013-14	9327267	4277718	1884856	926892	16416733
2012-13	9420693	4048353	1597250	706008	15772304

Source: UDISE data, different years.

   %Share of Muslims in Total Enrolment (Grades I to XII): 2012-13 to 2021-22

 Table 8 presents the share of Muslim enrolment in the total enrolment (Grades I to XII) from 2012-13 to 2021-22, revealing exciting trends. Initially, the share of Muslim enrolment was slightly lower than their share in the population, but it gradually picked up over the years. In the latest year, 2021-22, it was at par with their share in the population, which was 14.23 percent in the 2011 Census.

Between 2012-13 and 2021-22, the share of Muslims in the total enrolment fluctuated, with the lowest share being 12.70 percent in 2012-13 and the highest share being 14.31 percent in 2021-22, which indicates that Muslim enrolment in school education has been relatively proportional to their share in the population during this period. However, it is essential to note that having a proportionate share in total enrolment does not necessarily guarantee equitable representation at different levels of school education for Muslims in the relevant age groups (6 to 11, 11 to 13, 14 to 15, and 16 to 17 years). To analyze this further, information on the actual or official child population is required, which is currently unavailable. Even the share of Muslims in the total population in 2011 is outdated and may have changed by now.

Therefore, it cannot be definitively stated that the Muslim share in total school enrolment is perfectly aligned with their share in the total population without updated data on child population and enrolment. To gain a comprehensive understanding, examining the share of Muslims in total enrolment at different education levels is crucial, considering gender-specific data for boys and girls, which will be analyzed in Table 9.

The data presented in Table 9 indicates that, except for the primary and upper primary levels, the share of Muslim boys and girls enrolment in secondary and higher secondary levels is not aligned with their share in the total population (14.23 percent). Particularly at the higher secondary level, the share of Muslim boys’ enrolment is as low as 9.92 percent, and girls’ enrolment is 11.65 percent, both significantly below their share in the population.

A positive trend observed across all levels of school education is that the share of girls’ enrolment is consistently higher than that of boys, as seen from the data analyzed between 2012-13 to 2021-22. However, due to the non-availability of official projections for the Muslim child population, it is not possible to calculate the enrolment ratio, which would provide a more accurate representation of their participation in education.

Moving on to the state-specific share of Muslim to total enrolment (Table 10), it can be observed that in most states, Muslim enrolment is higher than their share in the total population. However, this is not the case for secondary and higher secondary levels of education. In ten states, the share of Muslim enrolment at the primary level is higher than the all-India level (15.6 percent). Notably, Jammu & Kashmir, which has a significant Muslim population (68.3 percent), has a lower percentage of Muslim enrolment at the primary level (64.7 percent), consistent across all levels of education in 2021-22. However, other Muslim-majority states, such as Assam, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, have higher enrolment shares than their population share at the primary level. On the other hand, populous states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have lower enrolment shares than their share in the population at all levels of education in 2021-22.

Regarding secondary and higher secondary levels, about nine states have a higher share of Muslim enrolment than at the all-India level. However, as many as 21 states have a lower share of enrolment at the secondary and 27 states at the higher secondary level than their share in the total state population in 2021-22, which indicates a potential issue of dropouts or a lack of transition to higher levels of education for Muslim children.

Table 8: Percent Share of Muslim Enrolment to Total Enrolment, 2012-13 to 2021-22

Year	Primary	Upper Primary	Secondary	Hr Secondary	Total
2021-22	15.62	14.41	12.61	10.76	14.31
2020-21	15.64	14.26	12.61	10.46	14.26
2019-20	15.38	13.87	12.27	9.89	13.95
2018-19	14.60	13.04	11.49	8.86	13.12
2017-18	14.70	13.11	11.23	9.05	13.20
2016-17	14.99	13.01	10.82	8.66	13.25
2015-16	14.43	12.60	10.24	8.05	12.72
2014-15	14.37	12.60	10.02	8.34	12.73
2013-14	14.34	12.52	9.87	8.27	12.70
Percent share of Muslim population to the total population of India, 2011 Census = 14.23%

Source: Computed based on UDISE data, different years.

Improving the efficiency of the education system is crucial to encourage more Muslim students to continue their education beyond the elementary level. Addressing this challenge will ensure equitable access to education for Muslim students at all levels, including secondary and higher secondary education, for both boys and girls.

Share of Muslims Enrolment to the Total Enrolment

As the state-specific data in Table 10 highlights, the percentage share of Muslims in the total population varies significantly across different States & Union Territories in India. There is a wide range of variation, from a low of 1.35 percent in Mizoram to a high of 96.58 percent in Lakshadweep, with the national average being 14.23 percent.

 Table 9: Percent Share of Muslim Enrolment to Total Enrolment, Boys & Girls, 2012-13 to 2021-22

Year	Primary Level (I-V)		Upper Primary Level (VI-VIII)		Secondary Level (IX-X)		Higher Secondary Level (XI-XII)		Total Enrolment (I-XII)
	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys
2021-22	15.89	15.38	14.97	13.89	13.40	11.88	11.65	9.92	14.80	13.86
2020-21	15.92	15.38	14.89	13.66	13.64	11.66	11.24	9.73	14.80	13.77
2019-20	15.66	15.13	14.54	13.23	13.29	11.33	10.67	9.15	14.49	13.45
2018-19	14.87	14.34	13.71	12.40	12.43	10.62	9.56	8.20	13.65	12.64
2017-18	14.96	14.45	13.80	12.46	12.18	10.37	9.84	8.33	13.73	12.70
2016-17	15.26	14.73	13.75	12.30	11.83	9.91	9.47	7.92	13.82	12.72
2015-16	14.68	14.19	13.30	11.93	11.23	9.34	8.77	7.40	13.25	12.22
2014-15	14.62	14.14	13.34	11.90	10.92	9.20	9.01	7.74	13.25	12.24
2013-14	14.61	14.09	13.23	11.86	10.69	9.14	8.84	7.76	13.21	12.24
2012-13	14.45	13.96	12.78	11.47	9.79	8.40	7.62	6.72	12.88	11.98

Source: Computed based on UDISE data, different years.

Interestingly, some states with a lower percentage share of Muslims in the total population, such as Assam and Kerala, have a higher share of Muslim enrolment in the primary to higher secondary education (Grades 1-12) than the national average, which suggests that in these states, a relatively higher proportion of Muslim children are enrolled in schools than their population share. On the other hand, certain states with a higher percentage share of Muslims in the total population, such as Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal, have a lower share of Muslim enrolment in the primary to higher secondary education than the national average, thus indicating a disparity in educational participation among Muslim students in these states.

Table 10: State-specific Share of Muslim Minority Enrolment to Total Enrolment at Different Levels of Education: 2021-22

State/ UT	Percentage Share of Muslim to Total Population, 2011 Census	Percentage Share by Level of Education
		Primary (Grades 1 to 5)	Upper Primary (Grades 6 to 8)	Elementary (Grades 1 to 8)	Secondary (Grades 9-10)	Higher Secondary (Grades 11- 12)	Primary to Higher Secondary (Grades 1-12)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	8.52	9.7	9.1	9.4	8.5	7.7	9.0
Andhra Pradesh	9.56	8.0	7.0	7.6	6.2	5.0	7.1
Arunachal Pradesh	1.95	1.5	1.2	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.4
Assam	34.22	43.8	40.6	42.7	33.4	25.1	40.1
Bihar	16.87	15.3	14.5	15.0	11.8	10.4	14.3
Chandigarh	4.87	6.1	5.8	6.0	5.1	2.9	5.3
Chhattisgarh	2.02	1.6	1.5	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.5
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and	3.76	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.5	3.8	5.4
Daman and Diu	7.92
Delhi	12.86	16.0	16.1	16.0	14.9	12.8	15.4
Goa	8.33	12.5	11.8	12.3	10.5	9.6	11.6
Gujarat	9.67	9.5	9.2	9.4	7.9	6.3	8.9
Haryana	7.03	10.2	7.4	9.2	5.2	3.5	7.8
Himachal Pradesh	2.18	1.9	1.9	1.9	1.7	1.1	1.7
J & K	68.31	64.7	61.7	63.7	60.8	60.5	62.9
Jharkhand	14.53	14.4	14.3	14.4	12.1	9.9	13.6
Karnataka	12.92	16.7	15.9	16.4	15.1	10.3	15.6
Kerala	26.56	38.3	36.6	37.7	35.6	29.3	36.1
Ladakh	–	55.2	54.0	54.8	57.2	62.2	56.2
Lakshadweep	96.58	99.6	99.7	99.6	99.7	99.8	99.7
Madhya Pradesh	6.57	5.5	5.3	5.4	4.2	3.9	5.1
Maharashtra	11.54	14.1	13.4	13.8	12.3	9.5	13.0
Manipur	8.40	10.3	9.2	9.9	8.2	6.5	9.3
Meghalaya	4.40	4.2	4.2	4.2	3.2	3.1	4.0
Mizoram	1.35	0.5	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.4	0.4
Nagaland	2.47	7.3	4.1	6.2	2.9	1.8	5.3
Odisha	2.17	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	1.4	1.9
Puducherry	6.05	8.6	7.8	8.3	7.2	7.3	8.0
Punjab	1.93	2.7	2.4	2.6	2.0	1.7	2.3
Rajasthan	9.07	9.8	8.1	9.2	6.6	5.0	8.3
Sikkim	1.62	2.2	1.9	2.1	1.5	2.0	1.9
Tamil Nadu	5.86	7.2	7.0	7.1	6.9	6.4	7.0
Telangana	–	15.3	16.0	15.5	15.4	15.4	15.5
Tripura	8.60	10.8	10.0	10.5	9.5	6.9	9.9
Uttar Pradesh	19.26	17.3	15.0	16.5	12.6	11.4	15.5
Uttarakhand	13.95	18.0	13.6	16.5	9.4	7.2	14.1
West Bengal	27.01	33.7	33.6	33.6	28.1	27.3	32.0
India	14.23	15.6	14.4	15.2	12.6	10.8	14.3

Source: UDISE+ 2021-22.

A significant trend observed across all States & Union Territories is that the percentage of Muslim children enrolled in higher secondary education (Grades 11-12) is lower than in all other levels of education, which may indicate a potential drop-off in enrolment at this level. Efforts should be made to address this issue and ensure higher secondary education opportunities for Muslim students. Furthermore, the data shows that the percentage of Muslim children enrolled in primary to higher secondary education is generally higher than those enrolled in secondary education (Grades 9-10), which suggests that many Muslim children are enrolled in primary education but do not continue their education beyond that level, leading to a decline in enrolment at higher levels.

The percentage of Muslim students enrolled in education from primary to higher secondary level also varies significantly across states. For example, in Lakshadweep, almost all Muslim students (99.7 percent) are enrolled in education from primary to higher secondary levels, while in Bihar, this percentage is only 14.3 percent, thus indicating disparities in access to education across different states. Similarly, the percentage of Muslim students enrolled in secondary education (Grades 9-10) also varies across states. For instance, 33.4 percent of Muslim students in Assam are enrolled in secondary classes, while in Lakshadweep, almost all Muslim students (99.7 percent) are enrolled in secondary education.

Overall, the data underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to education for all communities, including the Muslim community, regardless of their percentage share in the total population. The disparities in enrolment and educational achievement among different communities in India need to be carefully examined and addressed to promote inclusive and quality education for all. Efforts should be made to understand the factors contributing to these disparities and develop targeted policies and programs to bridge the gaps and promote equal educational opportunities for every child in the country.

Share of Muslim Enrolment by Gender to Total Enrolment by Gender

Next, we analyze the share of Muslim enrolment by gender at the primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels to the total school enrolment presented in Table 11.

Share of Muslim Enrolemnt to Total Muslim Enrolment

The data presented in Table 11 reveals that the share of Muslim enrolment at the primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels to the total Muslim enrolment (Grades I to XII) from 2012-13 to 2021-22 indicates some significant trends.

The primary level consistently has the highest share, accounting for more than 50 percent of total enrolment throughout the analyzed period. However, it is essential to note that the primary level’s share has declined over the years, reaching its highest at 60.64 percent in 2012-13 and its lowest at 52.02 percent in 2021-22. The second-highest share is observed at the upper primary level, which has remained higher than other levels throughout the period. In 2021-22, the upper primary level’s share stood at 26.31 percent.

In contrast, the shares of secondary education (Grades IX to X) and higher secondary education (Grades XI to XII) are much lower, at 13.27 percent and 8.40 percent, respectively; this suggests that not all students who enter the system progress to higher levels of education, indicating potential inefficiencies within the education system. Furthermore, the declining trend in the share of enrolment as we move from primary to higher levels of education also indicates inefficiencies in retention and transition within the education system.

The data highlights that many Muslim students are enrolled at the primary level. However, there are challenges in retaining and transitioning them to higher levels of education. These trends underscore the need to improve the efficiency and inclusivity of the education system, ensuring that all students, including Muslim students, have equal opportunities to access and progress in education at all levels. Efforts should be made to address the barriers that hinder students’ continuation and ensure equitable access to quality education, promoting a more inclusive and effective education system in India.

Table 11: Percent Share of Muslim Enrolment at Different Levels of Education, 2012-13 to 2021-22

Year	Primary (Grades I-V)	Upper Primary (Grades VI-VIII)	Secondary (Grades IX-X)	Hr Secondary (Grades XI-XII)	Total (Grades I-XII)
2021-22	52.02	26.31	13.27	8.40	100.00
2020-21	52.70	25.93	13.58	7.78	100.00
2019-20	53.49	25.70	13.48	7.33	100.00
2018-19	53.85	25.70	13.51	6.93	100.00
2017-18	54.30	25.91	13.05	6.74	100.00
2016-17	55.71	25.80	12.61	5.88	100.00
2015-16	56.21	25.69	12.09	6.01	100.00
2014-15	56.81	25.64	11.62	5.93	100.00
2013-14	57.82	25.35	11.21	5.62	100.00
2012-13	60.64	24.92	9.93	4.51	100.00

 Source: Computed based on UDISE data, different years.

Muslim Gross Enrolment Ratio at School Education in India (2021-22)

State-wise Muslim Gross Enrolment Ratio at School Education in India (2021-22)

Muslims Gross Enrolment Ratio at Higher Education Level (2020-21)

Muslim Gender Parity Index at Higher Education Level in India, 2016-17 to 2020-21

Average Annual Growth Rate: Muslim Enrolment in Higher Education

Share of Muslim Enrolment in Higher Education in India: 2016-17 to 2020-21

Share of Girls in Muslim Enrolment at School Level & Gender Parity Inde (GPI)

Number of Muslim Children Dropped-out between 2020-21 & 2021-22 in India

Muslim Students Transition Rate in India: Cohort 2018-19 to 2020-21

Muslim Students Retention Rate at Primary, Elementary & Secondary Levels, Cohort 2020-21

Share of Girls in Muslim Enrolment at School Level & Gender Parity Inde (GPI)

Share of Muslim Enrolment in India by Gender to Total Enrolment (2012-13 to 2021-22)

Muslim Students Flow Rates at School Level in India: Cohort 2020-21