The UDISE Report 2025–26

Context: The Union Ministry of Education officially released the comprehensive report on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) for the academic year 2025-26.

About The UDISE Report 2025–26:

What it is?

• The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is one of the largest management information systems in the world, covering more than 14.8 lakh schools, 1.02 crore teachers, and over 26 crore students across India.
• Functioning as the primary, high-fidelity data repository for school education under the Department of School Education and Literacy, it serves as the foundational analytical engine for the government to track educational parameters, allocate fiscal resources, and fine-tune policies in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP).

Key Indicators and Facts in the 2025-26 Report

1. Significant Drop in School Attrition: Dropout rates have declined across key stages, with preparatory-level dropouts falling to 8% and secondary-level dropouts reducing to 7.0%, indicating improved student retention.
2. Enhanced Student Retention & GER Surge: Retention has improved at both middle and secondary levels, while the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the secondary stage increased to 7%, reflecting wider access to schooling.
3. Strengthening Learner Transition Rates: Students are progressing more smoothly between school stages, with transition rates improving from foundational to preparatory, middle, and secondary education, reducing educational discontinuity.
4. Optimal Pupil-Teacher Ratios (PTR): Teacher strength has increased significantly, resulting in PTRs well below the NEP benchmark of 30:1, enabling better classroom attention and improved learning outcomes.
5. Consolidation of Unviable Institutions: The number of single-teacher and zero-enrolment schools has declined through rationalisation, improving resource utilisation and administrative efficiency across the school system.
6. Expansion of Digital Infrastructure: More schools now have computers and internet connectivity, strengthening digital learning, online resources, and technology-enabled classroom education.
7. Core Sanitation and Gender Metrics: Nearly all schools now provide electricity, drinking water, and functional toilets, while women constitute a majority of teachers, supporting gender-inclusive education.

Technical Challenges:

• The Secondary-Stage Drop-Off Cliff: Despite high retention in early grades, secondary-level retention remains only 9%, showing that many students still leave school before completing higher education.
• The Persistent Playground Deficit: Although digital infrastructure has improved, the proportion of schools with functional playgrounds has declined slightly, affecting students’ physical development and sports participation.
• Lagging Inclusivity for Children with Special Needs (CWSN): More than 40% of schools still lack adequate accessibility features, limiting equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities.
• Slow Adoption of Sustainable Infrastructure: Rainwater harvesting systems exist in only about 30% of schools, highlighting slow progress in promoting environmentally sustainable school infrastructure.
• Persistent One-Teacher Schools: Over 1 lakh schools still operate with only one teacher, placing excessive teaching and administrative responsibilities on a single individual and affecting learning quality.

Way Forward:

• Deploy Block-Level Secondary School Networks: Expand secondary and senior secondary schools in underserved areas to improve accessibility and reduce dropouts after middle school.
• Launch a Dedicated CWSN Accessibility Campaign: Upgrade all remaining schools with ramps, accessible toilets, and barrier-free infrastructure to achieve fully inclusive education.
• Mandate Institutional Rainwater Harvesting: Install rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels in schools using government and CSR funding to promote sustainability.
• Mandate Multi-Teacher Staffing Minimums: Ensure every functioning school has at least two full-time teachers, improving teaching quality and reducing dependence on a single educator.
• Integrate Internet Connectivity with Digital Libraries: Link internet-enabled schools to platforms like the National Digital Library and PM e-VIDYA to maximize digital learning opportunities.

Conclusion:

The drop in retention at the secondary level and the persistence of single-teacher schools show that significant structural challenges still remain. Moving forward, combining basic infrastructural improvements with a strong focus on high-school accessibility, digital equity, and inclusive teaching will be essential to realize the full vision of the National Education Policy.