UDISE+ and Performance Grading Index 2.0 Reports 2025-26

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The Ministry of Education released two key educational datasets, namely the UDISE+ 2025-26 report and the Performance Grading Index 2.0 for 2025-26.
These datasets help evaluate school capacity and learning quality across states, shifting focus from enrollment numbers to concrete learning outcomes.

The UDISE+ 2025-26 report shows reduced dropout rates and improved enrollment along with better infrastructure and student-teacher ratios in Indian schools.
However, challenges like high secondary level dropouts, learning gaps, and regional disparities still persist across several states.
The PGI 2.0 index shows that no state achieved the highest performance grades, highlighting the need for data driven reforms aligned with the NEP 2020.

Secondary school dropout rates fell from 8.2% in 2024-25 to 7.0% in 2025-26, while preparatory level dropouts dropped from 2.3% to 1.8%.
Ladakh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka recorded the highest secondary level dropout rates among all states and union territories.
Gross Enrolment Ratio at the secondary level grew to 71.7%, while student retention improved to 51.9%.
India crossed the milestone of 1 crore school teachers, achieving 1.02 crore total teachers across the nation.
The Pupil-Teacher Ratio remains well within the NEP 2020 limit of 30:1, standing at 10:1 for Foundational and 21:1 for Secondary level.
Student transition rates reached 99.2% from foundational to preparatory stage and 88.3% from middle to secondary stage.
Digital access expanded significantly, with 69.9% of schools having computers and 67.4% having active internet connections.
Basic infrastructure improved, with 95% of schools having electricity, 99.5% having drinking water, and 98.5% providing girls toilets.
While 90.5% of schools have functional libraries, only 58.2% feature ramps with handrails for disabled children.
Female representation stands strong with women making up 54.9% of teachers and girls accounting for 48.4% of student enrolment.

The Ministry of Education developed UDISE+ as a comprehensive national digital database for school statistics across government and private institutions.
It tracks data from pre-primary to higher secondary levels to enable effective policy design and resource allocation.
This platform supplies real-time data to monitor key national education programs including NEP 2020 and Samagra Shiksha.

No State or Union Territory managed to score high enough to enter the top three grade bands of Utkarsh, Uttam-1, or Uttam-2.
Chandigarh achieved the highest score nationwide, placing in the Uttam-3 grade band.
All States and Union Territories scored above the lowest bands, ensuring no region fell into Akanshi-2 or Akanshi-3.

Developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, PGI 2.0 serves as a composite tool to evaluate state education systems.
First introduced in 2017, this system was revised under PGI 2.0 to match the goals of NEP 2020.
The framework assesses states across 73 indicators spread over 6 domains worth a cumulative 1,000 points.
It integrates with portals like UDISE+, National Achievement Survey, PM POSHAN, and Vidyanjali for direct data verification.
States are classified into 10 levels ranging from Utkarsh down to Akanshi-3 to highlight educational quality over physical facilities.

Student retention drops sharply from 98.5% at early levels down to 51.9% at the Secondary stage, creating a massive drop-off cliff.
Weak foundational reading skills in early grades prevent students from coping with higher classes, driving learning poverty and dropouts by Class 9.
The lack of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy creates learning fatigue among students entering complex secondary curricula.
Over 1 lakh schools in India continue to operate with a single teacher, creating structural burnout and low teaching quality.
More than 40% of schools lack necessary disability friendly infrastructure for Children with Special Needs.
High structural infrastructure access has not translated into quality learning outcomes as shown by low overall PGI scores.
A large 31.4% performance gap separates top performer Chandigarh from lower ranked states like Meghalaya, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Low scoring districts lack financial resources and administrative support required to upgrade classrooms and train teachers.

Implementation of the mandatory schooling rights under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
Funding school interventions and infrastructure through the flagship Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Nutritional support through the nationwide PM POSHAN scheme to retain students in class.
Targeted residential schooling for underprivileged girls through Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

Merge single-teacher schools into consolidated cluster schools and expand the APAAR unique student identity framework.
Accelerate the NIPUN Bharat Mission for early numeracy while utilizing the PARAKH competency evaluation framework.
Fill teacher vacancies through mission mode recruitment and mandate continuous training via the DIKSHA digital portal.
Introduce vocational training from Class VI onwards while improving infrastructure for Children with Special Needs.
Institute third party academic audits at the Panchayat level to tie Samagra Shiksha funding directly to verified learning results.

India has expanded structural school access significantly, but fulfilling NEP 2020 targets requires shifting complete administrative focus toward quality learning outcomes and inclusive regional development.