We created this innovation to address a fundamental gap in India’s education system—students drop out or make suboptimal career choices not due to lack of talent, but due to lack of guidance.
As of 2022–23, while enrolment at the primary level was high, the system saw sharp drop-offs: 93% enrol in primary school, only 77.4% reach secondary, 56.2% complete Class 12, and fewer than 30% transition to tertiary education. This leakage is especially severe among girls and students from low-income families, who often finish school without clarity on next steps and enter low-wage or informal work.
At the same time, scaling traditional counseling is difficult. Hiring dedicated counselors across government schools is expensive, and teachers lack the time and tools to provide personalized guidance. There was also limited large-scale evidence in India linking career guidance to improved transition outcomes, slowing system adoption.
Insights from the Bharat Career Aspiration Report by YuWaah at UNICEF India highlight a significant access gap in career guidance, reinforcing the need for scalable, evidence-backed solutions.
UP PathShila, launched in 2023, was created to bridge this gap—combining structured guidance with technology-enabled tools to reduce costs, support counselors and teachers, and generate evidence for large-scale system adoption.
In practice, UP PathShila operates as a structured system combining delivery, measurement, and scale.
First, we addressed the data gap. There was no reliable way to track student transitions post Class 12. Using 2022–23 baseline data and surveys, we introduced the Eligible Enrolment Ratio (EER) as a standard metric to measure transitions into higher education.
Second, we built state partnership through an MoU with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and designed a rigorous implementation model across five districts. In select districts, we created treatment and control groups to measure impact using Difference-in-Difference methodology.
Third, we deployed local counselors and invested in their training to ensure contextual, high-quality delivery at scale.
Fourth, we deliver an end-to-end student journey—career exploration, self-awareness (psychometric assessments), career fitment (1:1 counseling), and transition support (college applications and scholarships). Each student builds a clear Plan A and Plan B.
Fifth, delivery is enabled through iDC ONE, a technology platform with career content, assessments, and real-time dashboards to track engagement and progress.
Finally, we continuously measure outputs and outcomes—awareness, applications, and enrolment—generating evidence to improve transitions and enable system-wide adoption.
UP PathShila has spread through a combination of credible evidence, outcome focus, and a shift toward high-potential pathways.
Launched in 2023 as a pilot, it demonstrated that career guidance improves not just enrolment, but the quality of transitions. Early results showed an 11.5 percentage point increase in higher education transitions, improving to 12.88 pp in later cohorts.
As the program scaled to 5 districts, it achieved a 77.18% EER, while also improving the pathways students choose. This matters because success is not just about access, but about entering high-potential pathways.
High-potential pathways are career-aligned, economically viable options—including admission into high and medium quality colleges, entry into professional or vocational courses with employability, and diversified choices beyond traditional degrees. The program has driven a 12.5 pp increase in quality college admissions and ~40% growth in vocational pathways.
As it spreads, the ecosystem is shifting toward measuring quality transitions, not just enrolment. We are now launching advocacy workshops with governments and funders to drive adoption, supported by a technology-enabled counselor co-pilot to scale guidance and reduce teacher burden.
UP PathShila is setting a new benchmark: not just more students transitioning, but more students transitioning well.
UP PathShila has evolved continuously since its 2023 launch, driven by field insights and data.
Year 1 – Measurement & Benchmarking:
We introduced the Eligible Enrolment Ratio (EER) to create a standard metric for tracking student transitions. This addressed the absence of outcome measurement and enabled evidence-based decision-making.
Year 2 – Deeper Outcomes & Targeting:
We expanded to EER Plus, capturing not just college enrolment but also vocational pathways and employment—providing a more realistic view of outcomes for low-income youth.
We also sharpened focus on high-potential pathways—career-aligned, economically viable options such as quality colleges and employable vocational courses.
Using data, we targeted the bottom 30% students in high-risk schools, increasing intensity through more one-on-one support and tailored interventions.
Program Strengthening:
We enhanced counselor capability through continuous training and peer learning on the platform, and deepened a girls-first approach, addressing barriers like low confidence, limited exposure, and social constraints.
Now & Future – System Scale:
We are building a technology-enabled counselor co-pilot, leveraging program data to support teachers and counselors with real-time guidance. This makes delivery more cost-effective, consistent, and scalable, enabling easier adoption by government systems.
This evolution reflects a shift from access → outcomes → quality and scale.
Ankit Bansal,
Director - PathShila
ankit@aasmanfoundation.org | +91-99160-31448.
