The UDISE+ Report 2025–26

Context

Ministry of Education released the UDISE+ Report 2025–26, highlighting changes in school infrastructure, enrollment, retention, and educational outcomes across India.

About the News

• Background:
   The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is one of the world's largest education databases, covering 14.67 lakh schools, 1.02 crore teachers, and 24.72 crore students.
• Core Role:
   Managed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, UDISE+ serves as the national digital database for school education, supporting resource allocation, performance monitoring, and National Education Policy (NEP) implementation.

Key Performance Indicators and Statistical Realities

Significant Drop in School Attrition

Dropout rates declined across school levels.

• Preparatory Stage: 1.8% (from 2.3%)
• Secondary Stage: 7.0% (from 8.2%)

Enhancements in Retention and Student Transition

• Retention Rates: 83.7% at the middle level and 51.9% at the secondary level.
• Transition Rates:
  • Foundational to Preparatory: 99.2%
  • Preparatory to Middle: 93.8%
  • Middle to Secondary: 88.3%

Classroom Metrics and Institutional Rationalization

• Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): Improved to 10 (Foundational), 12 (Preparatory), 17 (Middle), and 21 (Secondary), below the NEP norm of 30:1.
• Institutional Rationalization: Single-teacher schools reduced to 1.01 lakh, while zero-enrollment schools declined from 12,954 to 5,663.

Digital Expansion and Core Inclusivity

• Technology Integration: Computers available in 69.9% of schools; internet connectivity reached 67.4%.
• Basic Infrastructure: Drinking water 99.5%, electricity 95.0%, and girls' toilets 98.5%.
• Gender Parity: Women constitute 54.9% of teachers, while girls account for 48.4% of enrollment. Gender Parity Index (GPI) remained above 1 across all stages.

Technical Challenges and Structural Gaps

• Public-Private Enrolment Divergence: Government school enrollment fell by 86 lakh to 11.89 crore, while private unaided schools gained 89 lakh, reaching 9.89 crore.
• The Secondary Stage Drop-Off Cliff: Secondary retention remains only 51.9%, indicating nearly half of students leave before higher secondary education.
• The Persistent Playground Deficit: Schools with playgrounds declined slightly to 81.9%.
• Lagging Accessibility for Children with Special Needs (CWSN): Over 40% of schools still lack barrier-free infrastructure and CWSN-friendly facilities.
• Slow Adoption of Sustainable Infrastructure: Only 29.9% of schools have rainwater harvesting systems.
• The Single-Teacher Reliance Risk: More than 1 lakh schools continue to function with only one teacher.

Way Forward

• Build Block-Level Secondary School Networks

Develop higher secondary school clusters in underserved blocks to reduce travel distance and secondary-level dropouts.

• Launch a Dedicated CWSN Accessibility Campaign

Upgrade schools with ramps, tactile paths, wider entrances, and CWSN-compliant facilities for inclusive education.

• Mandate Multi-Teacher Staffing Minimums

Ensure every functioning school has at least two qualified teachers to improve educational quality.

• Combine Internet Connectivity with Digital Libraries

Integrate school internet with the National Digital Library, PM e-VIDYA, and regional-language digital learning resources.

Conclusion

The UDISE+ Report 2025–26 shows major improvements in infrastructure, digital access, and early-stage retention. However, low secondary retention, declining government school enrollment, and the persistence of single-teacher schools remain key challenges. Addressing these gaps is essential for achieving the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP).