Boys vs. women: Whose education expenses are higher in India? NSS 2025 survey answers

NSS 2025 survey reveals boys’ education expenses are higher than women’ throughout India. (AI Image)

The National Statistics Office (NSO), below the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), carried out the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E) in its eightieth spherical throughout April–June 2025. The survey centered on family expenditure on college education, together with non-public teaching, throughout rural and concrete India.The findings present detailed estimates of per-student expenditure, disaggregated by gender, kind of college, and stage of enrolment. The report reveals each general and item-wise variations in education spending for girls and boys.Average expenditure per pupil in rural and concrete IndiaAccording to the survey, the typical expenditure per pupil on college education was Rs 9,033 for boys and Rs 7,660 for women in rural areas. In city areas, boys’ common expenditure stood at Rs 24,788 in comparison with Rs 21,997 for women. The mixed rural and concrete common was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for women.Average expenditure per pupil on college education by gender (Rs )

Expenditure by stage of enrolmentThe NSS 2025 report exhibits that expenditure rises with higher ranges of education. In rural areas, boys’ expenditure on the higher secondary stage was Rs 16,850 in comparison with Rs 13,840 for women. In city areas, higher secondary expenditure was Rs 32,615 for boys and Rs 25,376 for women. Across rural and concrete India, the averages stood at Rs 22,300 for boys and Rs 17,683 for women.Type of college and expenditure variationsBy kind of college, rural authorities faculties recorded a median expenditure of Rs 2,705 for boys and Rs 2,570 for women. In non-public unaided (recognised) faculties, the agricultural common was Rs 23,511 for boys and Rs 22,036 for women. In city India, boys’ common expenditure in non-public unaided faculties was Rs 36,390, whereas women’ was Rs 34,973. The mixed common for all sorts of colleges was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for women.Item-wise expenditureThe survey additionally examined the expenditure elements of college education. In rural areas, the course payment expenditure per pupil was Rs 4,420 for boys and Rs 3,489 for women. In city areas, boys spent Rs 16,283 on track charges, in comparison with Rs 13,873 for women. Across India, boys’ common course payment expenditure was Rs 7,761, whereas women’ was Rs 6,390.Other expenditure elements confirmed comparable patterns:

Private teaching expenditureThe NSS 2025 survey reported that the typical expenditure on non-public teaching was additionally higher for boys. At the all-India stage, boys spent Rs 2,572 on non-public teaching per pupil, whereas women spent Rs 2,227. In rural areas, boys spent Rs 1,861 and women Rs 1,717. In city areas, boys’ expenditure was Rs 4,387 in comparison with Rs 3,542 for women.