India's Changing School Education System: UDISE+ 2025–26
Governance & Social Justice · Tuesday, 18 August 2026
The Department of School Education and Literacy released the UDISE+ 2025–26 Report covering 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers and 24.72 crore students. It shows an overall PTR of 24:1 within the NEP 2020 benchmark, improved retention and transition rates, declining dropouts, and expanding digital infrastructure.
Quick highlights
- UDISE+ 2025–26 covers 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers, and 24.72 crore students.
- Overall Pupil–Teacher Ratio is 24:1 — within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1; it ranges from 10:1 (Foundational) to 21:1 (Secondary).
- GER: 89.6% at Middle and 71.7% at Secondary level; transition to Secondary is 88.3%.
- Retention: 98.5% Foundational, 91.1% Preparatory, 83.7% Middle, 51.9% Secondary; dropouts fell to 1.8% (Preparatory) and 7% (Secondary), though Middle rose marginally to 3.6%.
- Single-teacher schools fell ~3% to 1,00,843; zero-enrolment schools fell 29% to 5,663.
- Girls form 48.4% of enrolment; women are 54.9% of teachers; SC and ST students account for 27.7% of enrolment.
Context
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) released the UDISE+ 2025–26 Report, providing a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of India's school education landscape covering 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers and 24.72 crore students.
Key Facts
India's overall Pupil–Teacher Ratio is 24:1, within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1, ranging from 10:1 at Foundational to 21:1 at Secondary level. GER stands at 89.6% (Middle) and 71.7% (Secondary). Retention is 98.5% (Foundational), 91.1% (Preparatory), 83.7% (Middle) and 51.9% (Secondary); transition to Secondary is 88.3%. Dropout rates fell to 1.8% at Preparatory and 7% at Secondary, though the Middle-stage rate rose marginally to 3.6%. Infrastructure: 95% of schools have electricity, 99.5% safe drinking water, 98.5% girls' toilets, 90.5% libraries, 69.9% computer access, and 67.4% internet connectivity.
Significance
UDISE+ provides granular data for planning, resource allocation and monitoring NEP 2020 implementation. Better retention, gender participation (girls at 48.4% of enrolment; women at 54.9% of teachers) and infrastructure indicate progress toward equitable, inclusive education, while growing digital connectivity and teacher availability strengthen India's long-term human capital formation.
Challenges / Way Forward
Retention drops sharply to 51.9% at the Secondary level and GER at Secondary (71.7%) shows continued scope for expansion at higher stages. The marginal rise in Middle-stage dropout (3.6%) and persistence of over 1 lakh single-teacher schools indicate areas needing targeted resource allocation and monitoring.
Exam Angle
GS Paper II — Governance & Social Justice: development and management of education and human resources; government policies in education. GS Paper III — Inclusive growth, human capital development, digital infrastructure. Essay themes: education, human capital, gender equality, digital transformation, inclusive development.
Remember this
- UDISE+ 2025–26 released by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L).
- Coverage: 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers, 24.72 crore students.
- Overall PTR 24:1 vs NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1.
- Secondary-level retention is just 51.9%; transition to Secondary is 88.3%.
- Zero-enrolment schools fell 29% to 5,663; single-teacher schools down ~3% to 1,00,843.
- SC + ST students = 27.7% of total enrolment; girls = 48.4% of enrolment.
- 99.5% schools have safe drinking water; 67.4% have internet connectivity.