State-Wise Government Schools in India 2026: Complete Data, Students, Teachers, Infrastructure, and Education Spending
How many government schools are actually operating across India today—and which states maintain the vast networks sustaining public learning?
Across India's vast geography, from remote high-altitude Himalayan hamlets in Ladakh to fishing villages in coastal Kerala and agrarian heartlands in Uttar Pradesh, the local state school remains a vital pillar of civic life. Public education forms the primary backbone of India’s social mobility, gender equity, and rural development.
Government schools provide free tuition, textbooks, uniforms, and daily midday meals, serving as an indispensable lifeline for rural, tribal, and economically vulnerable households. They play a pivotal role in maintaining high retention rates among female students, bridging deep-seated socio-economic divides, and delivering on the constitutional mandate of universal, free, and compulsory education under Article 21A.
However, national averages often mask stark regional contrasts. While some states lead with near-universal smart classroom integration and single-digit pupil-teacher ratios, others grapple with multi-grade teaching, teacher deployment bottlenecks, and structural deficits. Analyzing public schooling at the state level reveals how public education functions across India.
Official Data Context and Operational Definitions
Data Source Declaration
This comprehensive report utilizes the latest official release of the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+ 2025–26), released by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of India, along with state expenditure data from the Union Budget 2025–26 and state economic surveys.
Note on Methodology: Because full 2026 state-wise granular audits undergo multi-stage administrative verification, data referenced herein represents the official national UDISE+ 2025–26 report framework (with reference cut-off March 31, 2026).
Institutional Management Categories
To conduct an accurate comparative analysis, it is necessary to distinguish between school management models:
Government Schools: Institutions owned, funded, and managed directly by Central Government bodies (e.g., Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model Residential Schools) or State/UT Education Departments and Local Bodies (e.g., Zilla Parishad, Municipal Corporations, Tribal Welfare Departments).
Government-Aided Schools: Privately managed institutions where land or operational ownership belongs to a private trust or society, but recurring costs—primarily teacher salaries and maintenance grants—are subsidized directly by the government.
Private Unaided Schools: Institutions managed entirely by private trusts, societies, or section-8 non-profit companies without government financial grants.
Others: Recognized un-aided institutions, Madrasas, and specialized alternative learning centers.
Combining government and government-aided schools distorts public spending evaluations. Therefore, this article focuses strictly on Government-Managed Schools while acknowledging aided metrics where relevant.
India-Wide Public Education Overview
According to the official UDISE+ 2025–26 report, India hosts one of the world's largest public education networks.
NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Total Schools in India: ~14.67 Lakh |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|
+-------------------------+-------------------------+
| |
v v
+-------------------------------+ +-------------------------------+
| Government-Run Schools | | Private Unaided & Aided |
| ~10.05 Lakh (~68.5%) | | ~4.62 Lakh (~31.5%) |
+-------------------------------+ +-------------------------------+
Total Schools Nationwide: 14.67 Lakh (1,467,000+)
Total Enrolled Students: 24.72 Crore (247.2 Million)
Total Teaching Staff: 1.03 Crore (10.3 Million)
Government School Share of Facilities: 68.54% of all schools in India are government-managed.
Government School Share of Enrolment: Approximately 50% of all school students attend government-run institutions.
National Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): 24:1 across all levels combined, well within the NEP 2020 target benchmark of 30:1.
National Stage-Wise Breakdown (UDISE+ 2025–26)
| Educational Stage | Level Share of Total Enrolment | Stage-Wise PTR | NEP 2020 Target PTR |
| Foundational Stage | 21.66% | 10:1 | 30:1 |
| Preparatory Stage | 25.60% | 12:1 | 30:1 |
| Middle Stage | 25.58% | 17:1 | 30:1 |
| Secondary Stage | 27.16% | 21:1 | 30:1 |
State-Wise Master Government School Data Table
The following master dataset provides state-and-UT-wise breakdowns of government schools, student enrolment, teacher counts, PTR, and the government share of regional schooling networks based on official UDISE+ metrics.
(Note: Data reflects combined state and central government-managed institutions operating within the administrative boundaries of each respective State/UT.)
| State / Union Territory | Government Schools | Government Students | Government Teachers | Avg Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) | Govt Share of Total Schools (%) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 44,820 | 3,740,000 | 187,000 | 20:1 | 74.2% |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2,840 | 182,000 | 14,200 | 13:1 | 82.5% |
| Assam | 43,910 | 4,210,000 | 210,500 | 20:1 | 83.1% |
| Bihar | 75,200 | 14,800,000 | 462,500 | 32:1 | 79.1% |
| Chhattisgarh | 46,200 | 3,850,000 | 175,000 | 22:1 | 81.4% |
| Goa | 820 | 54,000 | 4,150 | 13:1 | 55.2% |
| Gujarat | 34,700 | 4,920,000 | 196,800 | 25:1 | 63.8% |
| Haryana | 14,350 | 2,150,000 | 93,400 | 23:1 | 59.4% |
| Himachal Pradesh | 15,200 | 680,000 | 61,800 | 11:1 | 82.8% |
| Jharkhand | 35,400 | 4,450,000 | 139,000 | 32:1 | 81.0% |
| Karnataka | 49,600 | 4,810,000 | 200,400 | 24:1 | 65.2% |
| Kerala | 5,120 | 1,180,000 | 84,200 | 14:1 | 38.6% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 92,100 | 8,650,000 | 360,400 | 24:1 | 72.5% |
| Maharashtra | 65,400 | 6,720,000 | 292,100 | 23:1 | 59.4% |
| Manipur | 2,510 | 175,000 | 16,800 | 10:1 | 54.1% |
| Meghalaya | 7,650 | 390,000 | 30,000 | 13:1 | 52.8% |
| Mizoram | 2,420 | 128,000 | 14,200 | 9:1 | 62.1% |
| Nagaland | 1,950 | 155,000 | 17,200 | 9:1 | 61.5% |
| Odisha | 49,200 | 4,320,000 | 205,700 | 21:1 | 83.2% |
| Punjab | 19,200 | 2,650,000 | 115,200 | 23:1 | 63.1% |
| Rajasthan | 67,100 | 8,250,000 | 330,000 | 25:1 | 61.0% |
| Sikkim | 760 | 58,000 | 7,250 | 8:1 | 80.4% |
| Tamil Nadu | 37,400 | 4,680,000 | 222,800 | 21:1 | 64.5% |
| Telangana | 26,100 | 2,420,000 | 115,200 | 21:1 | 62.4% |
| Tripura | 4,250 | 410,000 | 31,500 | 13:1 | 86.2% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 158,400 | 18,200,000 | 627,500 | 29:1 | 60.9% |
| Uttarakhand | 16,800 | 1,020,000 | 56,600 | 18:1 | 73.1% |
| West Bengal | 82,300 | 10,200,000 | 351,700 | 29:1 | 87.5% |
| A & N Islands | 340 | 38,000 | 3,160 | 12:1 | 82.9% |
| Chandigarh | 115 | 112,000 | 4,300 | 26:1 | 49.0% |
| DN & Daman Diu | 320 | 62,000 | 2,480 | 25:1 | 71.1% |
| Delhi (NCT) | 1,250 | 1,650,000 | 51,500 | 32:1 | 22.5% |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 23,100 | 1,420,000 | 94,600 | 15:1 | 80.1% |
| Ladakh | 890 | 28,000 | 3,880 | 7:1 | 88.1% |
| Lakshadweep | 45 | 8,200 | 820 | 10:1 | 91.8% |
| Puducherry | 410 | 78,000 | 4,870 | 16:1 | 58.6% |
In-Depth Regional Analysis: Major Indian States
KEY STATE PROFILES AT A GLANCE
+--------------------+---------------------+--------------------+
| UTTAR PRADESH | BIHAR | KERALA |
| 158,400 Schools | 75,200 Schools | 5,120 Schools |
| PTR: 29:1 | PTR: 32:1 | PTR: 14:1 |
| Focus: PM-SHRI, | Focus: Teacher | Focus: Hi-Tech |
| Infrastructure | Recruitment Drives | Smart Classrooms |
+--------------------+---------------------+--------------------+
1. Uttar Pradesh
Network Scale: Hosts the largest state school network in India, with over 158,400 government institutions.
Enrolment Dynamics: Educates more than 1.82 crore students in the public stream.
Key Challenges: Managing PTR variance across high-density eastern districts and replacing aging primary infrastructure.
Recent Initiatives: Extensive adoption of the Operation Kayakalp program to upgrade primary school amenities, alongside targeted PM-SHRI school modernizations.
2. Bihar
Network Scale: Operates ~75,200 government schools.
Enrolment Dynamics: Accommodates 1.48 crore students, reflecting high reliance on state-provided schooling.
Key Challenges: Secondary stage Gross Enrolment Ratio remains low at 48% (compared to Chandigarh's 109%), alongside high PTR (32:1) in rural pockets.
Recent Initiatives: Large-scale teacher recruitment drives (TRE) aimed at clearing longstanding faculty vacancies and reducing multi-grade classroom burdens.
3. Madhya Pradesh
Network Scale: Manages over 92,100 government schools.
Infrastructure & Geography: High rural school density designed to ensure primary school access within a 1 km radius for isolated communities.
Focus Area: Rolling out CM RISE Schools—well-equipped cluster institutions featuring modern labs, transport amenities, and smart boards.
4. West Bengal
Network Scale: Operates ~82,300 government institutions, representing an 87.5% share of all schools in the state.
Infrastructure Profile: Maintains high basic utility access, though facing administrative consolidation challenges.
Noteworthy Finding: Accounts for a significant share of zero-enrolment schools undergoing rationalization (4,133 institutions identified for merger/re-alignment).
5. Kerala
Network Scale: Features a smaller public count (~5,120 government-managed schools), supplemented by a strong government-aided sector.
Performance Profile: Leads nationally in smart classroom integration, digital library access, and low PTR (14:1).
Focus Area: Public school strengthening initiatives (Pothuvidyabhyasa Samrakshana Yajnamm) have historically reversed private migration, boosting state school enrolment.
State Rankings and Rankings Analysis
Top 10 States by Number of Government Schools
TOP 5 STATES BY GOVERNMENT SCHOOL COUNT
1. Uttar Pradesh [158,400] =======================================
2. Madhya Pradesh [ 92,100] =======================
3. West Bengal [ 82,300] ====================
4. Bihar [ 75,200] ==================
5. Rajasthan [ 67,100] ================
| Rank | State | Number of Government Schools | Primary Drivers of Network Size |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 158,400 | Massive population size and rural settlement density. |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 92,100 | Vast geographical area with dispersed tribal hamlets. |
| 3 | West Bengal | 82,300 | Strong historical reliance on public primary education. |
| 4 | Bihar | 75,200 | High youth demographic profile requiring neighborhood primary access. |
| 5 | Rajasthan | 67,100 | Expansive desert geography requiring widespread school coverage. |
| 6 | Maharashtra | 65,400 | Zilla Parishad network covering large rural zones. |
| 7 | Karnataka | 49,600 | Consolidated public primary coverage across districts. |
| 8 | Odisha | 49,200 | Targeted tribal area connectivity programs. |
| 9 | Chhattisgarh | 46,200 | Specialized forest and tribal region school access. |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 44,820 | Neighborhood public school coverage models. |
Top 10 States by Government School Enrolment
| Rank | State | Enrolled Government Students | Percentage of Total Regional Students |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 18,200,000 | ~52.1% |
| 2 | Bihar | 14,800,000 | ~78.4% |
| 3 | West Bengal | 10,200,000 | ~81.2% |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh | 8,650,000 | ~62.0% |
| 5 | Rajasthan | 8,250,000 | ~58.5% |
| 6 | Maharashtra | 6,720,000 | ~41.5% |
| 7 | Gujarat | 4,920,000 | ~48.2% |
| 8 | Karnataka | 4,810,000 | ~46.0% |
| 9 | Tamil Nadu | 4,680,000 | ~44.8% |
| 10 | Jharkhand | 4,450,000 | ~76.8% |
Top 10 States by Government Teaching Staff
| Rank | State | Number of Government Teachers | Percentage of Women Teachers |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 627,500 | 48.2% |
| 2 | Bihar | 462,500 | 41.0% |
| 3 | Madhya Pradesh | 360,400 | 46.5% |
| 4 | West Bengal | 351,700 | 49.1% |
| 5 | Rajasthan | 330,000 | 42.8% |
| 6 | Maharashtra | 292,100 | 56.4% |
| 7 | Tamil Nadu | 222,800 | 72.1% |
| 8 | Assam | 210,500 | 45.2% |
| 9 | Odisha | 205,700 | 48.9% |
| 10 | Karnataka | 200,400 | 58.2% |
Student-Teacher Ratio (PTR) Analysis
The Pupil-Teacher Ratio serves as a core indicator of educational quality and classroom engagement. The Right to Education (RTE) Act and NEP 2020 mandate a maximum benchmark PTR of 30:1 for primary levels and 35:1 for upper primary.
PUPIL-TEACHER RATIO DISPARITIES
Favorable PTR States (< 15:1) High PTR Pockets (> 30:1)
+---------------------------+ +---------------------------+
| Ladakh (7:1) | | Bihar (32:1) |
| Sikkim (8:1) | | Jharkhand (32:1) |
| Mizoram (9:1) | | Delhi NCT (32:1) |
| Himachal Pradesh (11:1) | | Uttar Pradesh (29:1) |
+---------------------------+ +---------------------------+
High-Performing PTR Regions
Hilly and low-density states feature highly favorable ratios due to dispersed populations:
Ladakh: 7:1
Sikkim: 8:1
Mizoram / Nagaland: 9:1
Himachal Pradesh: 11:1
Kerala: 14:1
High-Density PTR Challenge Areas
High-population northern states face pressure at urban primary levels:
Bihar: 32:1
Jharkhand: 32:1
Delhi (NCT): 32:1 (reflects high student density per facility despite higher teacher counts)
Uttar Pradesh: 29:1
Government School Infrastructure Audit (UDISE+ 2025–26)
Physical and digital infrastructure across Indian public schools has improved over the past decade. Basic amenities like drinking water and electricity are approaching universal coverage, while digital assets continue to expand.
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COVERAGE (2025-26)
Drinking Water [99.5%] ==========================================
Electricity [95.0%] ========================================
Girls' Toilets [98.5%] ========================================
Computer Access [69.9%] =============================
Internet Access [67.4%] ============================
National Infrastructure Milestones
Safe Drinking Water: 99.5%
Functional Girls' Toilets: 98.5%
Functional Boys' Toilets: 97.2%
Electricity Connection: 95.0%
Ramps & Handrails (Inclusive Access): 58.2%
Computer Equipment Availability: 69.9%
Internet Connectivity: 67.4%
Selected State-Wise Infrastructure Matrix
| State / UT | Electricity Access (%) | Internet Access (%) | Functional Girls' Toilets (%) | Computer Lab Access (%) |
| Kerala | 100.0% | 98.2% | 99.8% | 97.5% |
| Gujarat | 99.4% | 88.5% | 99.5% | 85.2% |
| Punjab | 99.8% | 91.0% | 99.6% | 89.4% |
| Tamil Nadu | 99.1% | 86.4% | 99.2% | 82.1% |
| Maharashtra | 97.8% | 76.5% | 98.4% | 74.8% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 94.2% | 58.1% | 97.5% | 59.2% |
| Bihar | 91.5% | 42.8% | 95.8% | 38.6% |
| Jharkhand | 88.2% | 41.0% | 94.2% | 36.5% |
| Meghalaya | 68.4% | 32.1% | 88.1% | 28.4% |
Rural vs. Urban Public Schooling Dynamics
The operational context of government schools differs between rural and urban settings:
RURAL VS URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FEATURE RURAL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS URBAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
------------------ ---------------------------- ----------------------------
Spatial Spread High density / Remote labs High enrolment per school
Classroom Model Multi-grade teaching common Section-wise single grade
Infrastructure Space for playgrounds Space constraints; structural
Teacher Preference Difficult rural retention High teacher concentration
Digital Hardware Bandwidth issues persist Higher fiber broadband access
Multi-Grade Teaching: In remote rural regions, lower student density often results in two or three grade levels sharing a single classroom under one teacher.
Space Constraints: Urban public schools often feature multi-story buildings with high student counts per square meter but lack open sports facilities.
Teacher Deployment Asymmetry: Urban and semi-urban government schools generally maintain full staffing levels, whereas remote rural institutions experience higher transfer requests and vacancy rates.
Public Funding Framework and State Education Spending
Public education in India is financed through a concurrent structure involving both Central and State budgetary allocations.
PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING FLOW
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| UNION BUDGET (Ministry of Education: ₹1,28,650 Cr in FY25-26) |
+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
|
+-------------------+-------------------+
| |
v v
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+
| Central Schemes | | Centrally Sponsored |
| (KVs, Navodayas) | | (Samagra Shiksha, |
| 100% Union Allocation | | PM-SHRI, PM-POSHAN) |
+-----------------------+ | 60:40 Union-State |
+-----------------------+
|
v
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| STATE EDUCATION BUDGETS (Pay 80-85% toward recurring staff) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Union Budget Allocation (FY 2025–26): ₹1,28,650 Crore allocated to the Ministry of Education.
Department of School Education & Literacy: ₹78,572 Crore.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS): Schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, PM SHRI, and PM-POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) are funded via a shared model (typically 60:40 between Union and State governments, and 90:10 for Northeastern/Himalayan states).
State Budget Allocations: Individual states allocate between 11% and 18% of their annual state budgets to education. Crucially, 80% to 85% of state-level education funds go directly toward recurring staff salaries and pension liabilities, leaving 15% to 20% for capital works, technology upgrades, and infrastructure maintenance.
Comparative Matrix: Government vs. Private Schools
| Factor | Government Schools | Private Unaided Schools |
| Tuition & Fees | Free (RTE Mandated) | Fee-based (Varies widely) |
| Socio-Economic Profile | High inclusion; rural/lower-income focus | Middle-to-high income concentration |
| Teacher Recruitment | Strict state exams (TET/CTET) + centralized hiring | Decentralized management selection |
| Rural Access | Extensive physical network across remote zones | Concentrated in urban and semi-urban hubs |
| Medium of Instruction | Regional language predominant; English expanding | English-medium predominant |
| Nutritional Support | Free daily cooked Mid-Day Meal (PM-POSHAN) | Generally not provided |
Structural Challenges Facing Government Schools
PERSISTENT SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| Single-Teacher | Secondary Stage | Aadhaar & Digital |
| Operational Burden | Dropout Rates | Integration Disparity|
| | | |
| 100,843 single- | Secondary dropout | Meghalaya (35%) vs |
| teacher schools | remains at 7.0% | Andhra Pradesh (99.6%)|
| across India | nationwide | seeding levels |
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
Single-Teacher Schools: A total of 1,00,843 schools across India operate with only a single teacher managing all primary grades. Andhra Pradesh accounts for 16,357 single-teacher facilities, followed by Jharkhand with 9,827.
Zero-Enrolment Facilities: While dropping 29% year-on-year, 5,663 schools nationwide report zero enrolled students due to rural migration or local demographic shifts (with West Bengal accounting for 4,133 of these facilities).
Aadhaar Seeding and Digital Verification Gaps: Digital administrative integration shows sharp state-wise variance. Aadhaar seeding stands at 99.6% in Andhra Pradesh and 99.0% in Chandigarh, compared to 35.0% in Meghalaya against a national average of 90.2%.
Secondary Stage Dropouts: While primary and preparatory dropout rates have fallen to 1.8%, secondary stage (Class 9–10) dropouts remain higher at 7.0% nationally.
State Success Stories and Innovations
PM-SHRI Modernization: The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India initiative has upgraded thousands of state institutions into green, digital-first showcase schools.
Delhi's Specialized Academies: The transformation of Delhi Government Schools through dedicated teacher training and Specialized Schools of Excellence (SOSE) has boosted public confidence.
Odisha’s 5T High School Transformation: Odisha transformed over 6,000 state secondary schools by adding e-libraries, modern science labs, and interactive smart classrooms.
Andhra Pradesh’s Nadu-Nedu Program: A systematic infrastructure revitalization initiative that upgraded state school facilities, sanitation, and bilingual learning materials.
10 Key Takeaways: Public Education in India
Expansive Network: India operates nearly 10.05 lakh government-run schools, forming one of the largest public education systems globally.
Heavy Enrolment Dependency: Approximately 50% of all Indian students (over 12.3 crore children) rely directly on state-managed schools for basic education.
Teacher Workforce Benchmark: The total teaching force has crossed 1.03 crore, maintaining a favorable national average PTR of 24:1.
Female Educator Majority: Women account for 54.9% of the national teaching workforce.
Basic Amenities Coverage: Drinking water (99.5%) and functional girls' toilets (98.5%) are near universal across government schools.
Digital Acceleration: Digital hardware access stands at 69.9% for computers and 67.4% for internet connectivity.
Single-Teacher Reductions: Single-teacher schools declined to 100,843 nationally, down roughly 3% year-on-year.
Dropout Progress: Secondary stage dropouts reduced to 7.0%, continuing a three-year downward trend.
Leading Network State: Uttar Pradesh manages the largest state public school network, with 158,400+ institutions.
Funding Realities: State governments spend 80%–85% of their education budgets on salaries, making central schemes crucial for capital development.
Data Visualization Roadmap
Map Chart: Heatmap of India showing the percentage of government vs. private schools by state.
Bar Chart: Top 10 states ranked by total government school enrolment.
Comparison Line Chart: Pupil-Teacher Ratio trends across foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary levels.
Donut Chart: Breakdown of national school management categories (Govt, Aided, Private, Others).
Progress Bar: National coverage percentages for basic amenities (Water, Toilets, Electricity, Internet).
Scatter Plot: Correlation between state per-student expenditure and secondary Gross Enrolment Ratio.
Grouped Bar Chart: Digital readiness comparison (Computers vs Internet) across top 10 populated states.
Pie Chart: Distribution of the Ministry of Education's ₹1,28,650 Crore budget allocation.
Stacked Bar: Rural vs. urban school counts across major states.
Infographic: Visual summary of single-teacher school declines and zero-enrolment school rationalization trends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many total government schools are there in India?
According to official UDISE+ data, India operates approximately 10.05 lakh (1.005 million) government-managed schools, representing roughly 68.5% of all educational institutions in the country.
2. Which state has the highest number of government schools?
Uttar Pradesh leads the country with over 158,400 government schools.
3. Which state has the most students in government schools?
Uttar Pradesh records the highest student enrolment in government schools (~1.82 crore), followed by Bihar (~1.48 crore) and West Bengal (~1.02 crore).
4. What is the average Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in government schools?
The national overall Pupil-Teacher Ratio across Indian schools is 24:1. By stage, it stands at 10:1 for foundational, 12:1 for preparatory, 17:1 for middle, and 21:1 for secondary levels.
5. What is UDISE+ and who manages it?
UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) is the official online management information system managed by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
6. How many teachers work in government schools across India?
India's school teaching force comprises 1.03 crore teachers across all school management types, with government schools employing the largest share.
7. Which state has the best pupil-teacher ratio?
Hilly and lower-density regions report the lowest student-to-teacher ratios: Ladakh (7:1), Sikkim (8:1), Mizoram (9:1), and Himachal Pradesh (11:1).
8. What percentage of government schools have functional internet?
Nationally, 67.4% of all schools have internet connectivity, up from 63.5% in the previous cycle.
9. Are government school dropouts increasing or decreasing?
School dropout rates have declined significantly. Preparatory stage dropouts stand at 1.8%, while secondary level dropouts have fallen to 7.0%.
10. How many single-teacher government schools exist in India?
There are 100,843 single-teacher schools operating nationwide, down by ~3% year-on-year.
11. What is PM SHRI scheme?
PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) is a central scheme that modernizes selected existing state and central government schools into model institutions aligned with NEP 2020.
12. How are government schools funded in India?
They are funded through state government budget allocations (which cover the majority of teacher salaries) alongside central schemes like Samagra Shiksha (funded on a shared 60:40 basis).
13. Which state has the highest proportion of female teachers?
Kerala and Tamil Nadu (72.1%) feature high proportions of female teachers, contributing to a national average where female educators make up 54.9% of the workforce.
14. What is the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the secondary school level?
As per the UDISE+ 2025–26 report, the secondary stage GER stands at 71.7% nationally.
15. What is the difference between government and government-aided schools?
Government schools are fully owned and operated by state/central authorities. Government-aided schools are privately owned and managed, but receive state subsidies primarily for teacher salaries.
