Gandhinagar, June 22: The number of female students maintaining at least 80% attendance in Gujarat’s secondary and higher secondary schools has increased by 73% compared to last year. Additionally, attendance in science stream classes has surged by 125%.
On Monday, data released by the state’s ‘Vidya Samiksha Kendra’ revealed that the number of girls achieving this attendance milestone rose from 171,988 in the 2024-25 academic year to 296,495 in 2025-26, marking an increase of 124,507 students.
This data is presented as evidence of the impact of the ‘Namo Lakshmi Yojana’, initiated under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership. The scheme aims to ensure that girls can complete their education up to class 12 without interruptions due to financial constraints.
The government stated that student attendance is monitored online through the ‘Vidya Samiksha Kendra’. Besides the increase in students with at least 80% attendance, the number of girls achieving full attendance has also risen by 62,059 compared to last year.
Alongside this scheme, there has been a notable increase in female enrollments in secondary and higher secondary education. The number of girls enrolling rose from 1,329,762 in 2024-25 to 1,391,308 in 2025-26, reflecting an increase of approximately 4.63%.
The most significant growth was observed in class 12, where enrollments increased by 13.59%, indicating that more girls are continuing their education at the higher secondary level.
The government reported that beneficiaries of the ‘Namo Lakshmi Yojana’ have received a total of ₹1,664.06 crore so far. Data released alongside the review indicates that the ‘Namo Saraswati Science Sadhana Yojana’ has also led to increased attendance and enrollment in science studies, aimed at encouraging students to pursue the science stream.
According to the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, the number of students in science classrooms with attendance between 80% and 100% rose from 19,324 in 2024-25 to 43,533 in 2025-26, a remarkable increase of nearly 125%.
Furthermore, the number of students recording attendance between 81% and 99% in science classes rose by 24,209 over the year.
During this period, enrollment in the science stream also saw growth. The number of students enrolling in science increased from 240,556 in 2024-25 to 255,804 in 2025-26, representing a rise of approximately 6.34%. Class 12 science enrollments alone recorded an increase of 11.04%.
Officials noted, “This reflects the growing interest among Gujarat’s youth in science and technology.” Under the ‘Namo Saraswati Science Sadhana Yojana’, beneficiaries have received ₹290 crore in financial assistance to date.
The government has linked these initiatives to a broader emphasis on education. Citing Prime Minister Modi, the government stated he has consistently highlighted the importance of quality education for national development, asserting that “education has the power to transform the nation and change its destiny.”
Officials also mentioned that during his tenure as Chief Minister, PM Modi implemented several educational initiatives, including the ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ and ‘Kanya Kelvani Rath Yatra’, which played a crucial role in enhancing primary education access across the state.
Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, several educational initiatives have been launched, including the ‘Namo Lakshmi Yojana’, ‘Namo Saraswati Science Sadhana Yojana’, ‘Chief Minister Gyan Setu Merit Scholarship Scheme’, and ‘Chief Minister Gyan Sadhana Merit Scholarship Scheme’.
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