SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. 

Context: The Ministry of Education recently released the UDISE+ 2025–26 Report, providing a comprehensive picture of India’s school education system.

More on the News

• UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) serves as India’s integrated digital database for school education, covering 14.67 lakh schools, 24.72 crore students and 1.03 crore teachers, making it one of the world's largest educational databases.

• With effect from 2025–26, educational indicators have been restructured according to the NEP 2020-recommended 5+3+3+4 system—Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary—replacing the earlier 10+2 reporting framework.

• The report is the fourth edition based on the student registry system introduced in 2022–23. 

Key Findings of UDISE+ 2025–26

NEP 2020-Aligned Educational Framework

• This is the first UDISE+ report presenting educational indicators under the 5+3+3+4 structure of NEP 2020.

• Student distribution across stages stands at 22% Foundational, 25% Preparatory, 26% Middle and 27% Secondary. 

Improved Access and Student Progression

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) remained robust across stages, with Secondary GER reaching 71.7%, indicating continued progress toward universal school participation.

• The report also records improved transition and participation across educational stages, reflecting better student progression through the schooling system.

Better Retention and Lower Dropout Rates

• National dropout rates remain relatively low at 1.8% (Preparatory), 3.6% (Middle) and 7.0% (Secondary). 

• Retention rates stand at 98.5% (Foundational), 91.1% (Preparatory), 83.7% (Middle) and 51.9% (Secondary), indicating improved student retention but persistent challenges at higher grades. 

Strengthening Teacher Availability

• The number of teachers increased to 1.03 crore, reflecting continued expansion of the teaching workforce. 

• National Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) stands at 24, while stage-wise PTR is 10 (Foundational), 12 (Preparatory), 17 (Middle) and 21 (Secondary), remaining within NEP-recommended levels.

Governance and Infrastructure Improvements

• Access to basic facilities remains high, with 99.5% schools having drinking water, 98.5% girls’ toilets, 97.2% boys’ toilets and 95% electricity connectivity. 

• Availability of digital infrastructure continues to improve, with 69.9% schools having computer facilities and 67.4% internet access.

Inclusive Participation in Education

• Girls constitute 48.4% of total enrolment, reflecting near gender parity in school education. 

• The Gender Parity Index (GPI) exceeds 1 at all educational stages, indicating proportionately higher participation of girls compared to boys.

Key Concerns Emerging from the Report

• Declining Government School Enrolment: Government schools have witnessed a continued decline in enrolment in recent years, suggesting growing preference for private schooling in several regions.

• Secondary Education Gap: Despite improvements, Secondary GER (71.7%), higher dropout rates and lower retention levels indicate that universal participation at the secondary stage remains a challenge.

• Regional Imbalances in Schooling Infrastructure: Several States continue to face disparities in the distribution of schools, teachers and students, resulting in underutilisation in some regions and higher student concentration in others. 

• Digital and Inclusive Infrastructure Deficits: Although digital infrastructure has improved, internet connectivity, computer access, CWSN-friendly toilets and accessibility facilities remain inadequate in many schools. 

Way Forward

• Strengthen interventions to improve retention and transition at the secondary stage in line with NEP 2020 goals.

• Expand digital infrastructure, assistive facilities and inclusive education measures, particularly in underserved regions.

• Enhance teacher deployment and school rationalisation to address regional disparities in resource utilisation.

• Leverage UDISE+ data analytics for targeted policy interventions, evidence-based planning and efficient implementation of educational schemes.

• Accelerate efforts toward achieving universal school participation and 100% GER up to secondary level by 2030, as envisaged under NEP 2020.

Sources :
PIB
DSEL