Paper short abstract:

In India, educational disparities across gender and socio-religious groups observed through different stages of education ladder widen at higher education completion level. We argue that dearth of women leaders from disadvantaged groups' results from virtual absence of college graduates among them.

Paper long abstract:

The process of human capital accumulation in India has been rather lopsided to the detriment of the less privileged groups - be it women or historically disadvantaged groups. Using pooled data from NSS - 1999-00, 2004-05 and 2011-12, the paper examines education transitions across socio-religious groups (SRGs) and gender for individuals aged 6-29 years. Firstly, there has been a substantial education expansion in the country - there were no stark community or gender differences for school enrolment, primary and middle level completion in 2011-12. Secondly, though likelihood of college completion has significantly improved between 1999-00 and 2011-12 but hierarchy across SRGs and gender was quite evident. Although disadvantaged sections of both Muslims and SCs are subject to affirmative action, disadvantaged Muslims particularly their women performed poorly than all other SRGs.

It is well established that education particularly higher education has an intrinsic value in terms of inculcating self-confidence and empowering individuals besides other overt labor market benefits. In this regard, our paper argues that an interplay of gender norms and lower likelihood of college level completion particularly from disadvantaged groups of women results in their poor representation in leadership roles.