Record Minority School Enrolment Achieved Under Modi Government

In a significant development amidst ongoing political debates regarding minority rights, the Indian government has released official statistics indicating a notable increase in minority student enrolment in schools over the past five years. This data comes at a time when the opposition has intensified its efforts to connect with minority groups, alleging that the current administration has neglected these communities. However, the Centre asserts that participation from minority groups in the educational sector has not only improved but has reached unprecedented levels under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, presented these findings in Parliament, revealing that the proportion of minority students enrolled in schools has hit its peak across all educational stages in the last five academic years. This encompasses six officially recognized minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains. The statistics show a rise in minority enrolment at various educational levels, with primary school enrolment increasing from 18.8% in the academic year 2021-22 to 21.8% in 2025-26. Similarly, the upper primary level saw an increase from 17.8% to 19.6%, while secondary school enrolment rose from 16.4% to 18.7%. The higher secondary level also experienced growth, climbing from 15.1% to 17.1% during this timeframe, marking the highest recorded figures in the last five years.