India, Dec. 11 -- "I graduated in commerce two years ago and worked at a private firm, but the free education scheme allowed me to pursue my MBA. This degree will help me grow in my career," says Pooja Kamble, the daughter of an auto driver, who recently joined the MBA programme in Pimpri.

Kamble is one among thousands of girls whose lives stand transformed by this scheme, implemented earlier this year by the higher and technical education department, which provides free education to girls in degree, diploma and postgraduate programmes, provided the annual income of their families does not exceed Rs.8 lakh. The subsidy covers professional courses like engineering, law, pharmacy and management.

So much so that admissions among girls have...