Maharashtra: Education Scheme Boosts Girls’ Law Admissions By 1,240, Enrolment Share Reaches 43.38 Per Cent

Mumbai, October 19, 2026: Maharashtra's free education scheme for girls has resulted in a notable rise in their enrollment in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programs, data from the Directorate of Higher Education shows. The share of female law students has climbed from 40.75% in 2025-26 to 43.38% in 2026-27. The number of women admitted to law courses grew by 1,240 from 13,521 to 14,761 over the past academic year.

The increase has been especially pronounced in the five-year integrated LLB program, which students can begin after completing high school. Female enrolment in this course climbed from 5,450 in 2025-26 to 6,413 in 2026-27, a rise of 963 students. Similarly, female enrollment in the three-year LLB program grew from 8,071 to 8,348 during the same period.

These figures suggest a growing interest among young women in pursuing law as a career, particularly through the five-year program that allows students to enter the legal field shortly after finishing their schooling. In August 2024, the Maharashtra government introduced a tuition and examination fee waiver for girls as part of its efforts to promote women's empowerment and ensure that financial constraints do not hinder their access to higher education.

The scheme aims to provide relief to families, particularly those from rural and lower-income backgrounds, who may find it challenging to afford the expense of professional education.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has consistently supported the initiative. Beyond expanding access to education, the scheme is designed to encourage women to establish independent careers in law, the judiciary, and public administration. The latest enrollment figures indicate that the fee-waiver program is successfully encouraging more girls to pursue higher education and achieve greater financial independence.