Measuring the Pulse of Indian Education

“Education is not only the foundation upon which our civilization has been built, but it is also the architect of humanity's future.” Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

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The Indian education system has undergone significant transformation over the years. Serving 24.8 crore students across 14,72 lakh schools, it is supported by a dedicated workforce of 98 lakh teachers, as reported by the UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus 2023-24).

Government schools form the backbone of the system, comprising 69% of the total, enrolling 50% of students and employing 51% of teachers. On the other hand, private schools make up 22.5% of institutions, catering to 32.6% of students and employing 38% of teachers. This growing structure reflects the dynamic changes in the Indian education landscape, paving the way for continuous improvements in enrollment and access over the years.

Enrollment Trends in India

The NEP 2020 aims for a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2030. The GER is near universal at the primary (93 %) and the efforts are underway to bridge the gaps at the secondary (77.4 %) and higher secondary level (56.2 %), driving the nation closer to its vision of inclusive and equitable education for all. In the realm of higher education, India has seen a dramatic rise in student enrollment. The total number of students enrolled in higher education reached 4.33 crore in 2021-22, a 26.5% increase from 3.42 crore in 2014-15. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for the 18-23 age group also rose from 23.7% to 28.4% in the same period.

Women’s participation in higher education has also witnessed significant growth, with female enrollment rising from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.07 crore in 2021-22, marking a 32% increase. This progress is especially evident in fields like Medical Science, Social Science, and Arts, where women are now leading the charge in enrollment.

Decline in Dropout Rate