Abstract

The present study examined life skills among higher education students in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, with specific reference to gender, locale, and educational level. The primary objectives were to determine whether significant differences exist in life skills across these background variables. A quantitative descriptive survey method with a cross-sectional design was employed. Using purposive sampling for district selection and simple random sampling for participant selection, data were collected from 120 undergraduate and postgraduate students through the Life Skills Scale developed by Ahmad and Parveen (2021). Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests were applied for analysis. The findings revealed statistically significant differences in life skills based on gender, locale, and educational level. Female, urban, and postgraduate students demonstrated significantly higher life skills scores compared to their counterparts. The results highlight the influence of socio-cultural context, institutional exposure, and academic engagement on life skills development.