UDISE+ Report 2025–26: Key Findings, Challenges & Government Initiatives

Subject: GS 2: Polity & Governance

Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of Education released the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) (UDISE+) Report 2025–26.

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Key Findings of UDISE+ Report 2025–26

• Increase in Number of Teachers: The total number of teachers increased to 1,02,73,020 in 2025–26, representing an 8.3% increase compared to 2022–23.
• Improved Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): The Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) improved to 10 at the Foundational stage, 12 at the Preparatory stage, 17 at the Middle stage, and 21 at the Secondary stage.
  • All these ratios are significantly better than the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendation of 30:1.
• Reduction in Dropout Rate: The dropout rate at the Preparatory stage declined from 2.3% in 2024–25 to 1.8% in 2025–26, while the Secondary stage witnessed a decline from 8.2% to 7.0%.
  • The Middle stage recorded a marginal increase from 3.5% to 3.6%, but overall dropout levels remain significantly lower than in previous years.
• Improved Student Retention: The student retention rate increased from 82.8% to 83.7% at the Middle stage and from 47.2% to 51.9% at the Secondary stage.
• Improved Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the Secondary stage increased from 68.5% to 71.7%, indicating improved access to secondary education.
  • The Middle-level GER remained broadly stable at 89.6%, reflecting sustained participation.
• Improved Transition Rate: The transition rate from Foundational to Preparatory increased to 99.2%, from Preparatory to Middle to 93.8%, and from Middle to Secondary to 88.3%.
• Reduction in Single-Teacher and Zero-Enrolment Schools: The number of single-teacher schools declined by around 3%, from 1,04,125 to 1,00,843.
  • The number of zero-enrolment schools declined by nearly 29%, from 7,993 to 5,663.
• Improvement in Digital Infrastructure: The proportion of schools with computer facilities increased from 64.7% to 69.9%.
  • The proportion of schools with internet connectivity increased from 63.5% to 67.4%.
• Improvement in Basic School Infrastructure: 95.0% of schools have electricity, 99.5% have safe drinking water, 98.5% have girls’ toilets, 97.2% have boys’ toilets, and 96.9% have handwashing facilities.
  • The availability of libraries increased to 90.5%, while rainwater harvesting facilities increased to 29.9%.
  • The proportion of schools with playgrounds declined marginally from 83.0% to 81.9%.
• Progress Towards Inclusive Education: The proportion of schools equipped with ramps and handrails increased from 54.9% to 58.2%.
• Improved Female Representation: Female teachers constituted 54.9% of the teaching workforce, compared to 54.2% in the previous year.
  • Girls’ enrolment increased from 48.3% to 48.4%, indicating gradual progress towards gender parity in education.

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Challenges Faced by the Education System in India

• Learning Outcomes: Persistent gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) and uneven learning outcomes continue to affect educational quality across States.
• Regional and Social Disparities Significant disparities persist between urban and rural areas, across States, and among socially disadvantaged groups, particularly in access to quality education.
• Secondary Education: Despite improvements, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (71.7%), Retention Rate (51.9%), and Transition Rate (88.3%) at the secondary level indicate that many students still discontinue education before completing school.
• Digital Divide: Nearly 30% of schools lack computer facilities, while around one-third do not have internet connectivity, limiting equitable access to digital education.
• Inclusive Education: Only 58.2% of schools have ramps with handrails, highlighting the need for greater accessibility for Children with Disabilities (CwDs).
• Infrastructure Gaps: Many schools continue to lack adequate libraries, playgrounds, laboratories, smart classrooms, and rainwater harvesting facilities, affecting the overall learning environment.
• Teacher Availability: Despite improvements, shortages of trained subject teachers, particularly in rural and remote areas, remain a concern.

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Government Initiatives

• National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) (2008): Provides financial assistance to reduce dropout among economically weaker students.
• Samagra Shiksha (2018): An integrated school education scheme supporting equity, quality, infrastructure development, teacher training, digital education, and inclusive education from pre-primary to Class XII.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 (2020): Introduced the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure, universal access to education, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), multidisciplinary learning, and competency-based education.
• PM eVIDYA (2020): Promotes digital learning through DIKSHA, SWAYAM Prabha TV channels, radio, and online resources.
• NIPUN Bharat Mission (2021): Aims to ensure Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for all children by the end of Grade III.
• Vidyanjali Programme (2021): Encourages community participation and voluntary contributions to strengthen school education.
• PM POSHAN (2021) (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme, 1995): Provides nutritious meals to improve enrolment, attendance, retention, and nutritional outcomes.
• PM SHRI Schools (2022): Develops selected schools as model institutions implementing the vision of NEP 2020 through modern infrastructure and innovative pedagogy.

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Conclusion

The UDISE+ Report 2025–26 shows progress in access, retention, digital infrastructure, and gender inclusion, but gaps in learning outcomes, equity, and secondary education persist. Achieving NEP 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 requires sustained investment in inclusive, quality education.

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