Beyond the Numbers: Decoding India's School Education Progress

The UDISE+ 2025–26 report, a digital database of school education data, covers 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers and 24.72 crore students. It records a Gross Enrolment Ratio of 71.7 % at the secondary stage and 89.6 % at the middle stage, with overall pupil‑teacher ratio (PTR) of 24:1 (stage‑wise PTR 10:1‑21:1), well within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1. Dropout rates fell to 1.8 % (preparatory) and 7.0 % (secondary) while retention rates remained high (98.5 %‑51.9 %). Infrastructure improvements include computers in 69.9 % of schools, internet in 67.4 %, electricity in 95 % and safe drinking water in 99.5 % of schools. Girls constitute 48.4 % of enrolment and women 54.9 % of teachers; OBCs, SCs and STs together account for 27.7 % of enrolment.