UDISE+ Report 2025-26: India records lower school dropouts, improved student-teacher ratio

The Ministry of Education on July 7 released the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) Report 2025-26, showing improvements across multiple indicators of school education in India, including teacher strength, pupil-teacher ratios, enrollment, retention, infrastructure, digital access, and gender representation.

The annual report presents data on school education across the country and highlights progress made during the 2025-26 academic year compared with previous years.

Teacher strength rises by 8.3%

One of the key findings of the report is the continued rise in the number of teachers. According to the ministry, the teaching workforce has been increasing steadily since 2022-23, with the total number of teachers rising by 8.3% during the 2025-26 reporting year compared with 2022-23.

The ministry said the increase is expected to improve student-teacher ratios, enhance the quality of education, and address regional disparities in teacher availability.

Pupil-teacher ratio improves across all school stages

The report also recorded significant improvements in the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) across all stages of school education. The PTR now stands at 10 at the foundational level, 12 at the preparatory level, 17 at the middle level, and 21 at the secondary level.

These figures are well below the National Education Policy (NEP) recommendation of 30:1. According to the ministry, improved PTR enables more individualized attention for students, strengthens teacher-student interaction, enhances classroom learning experiences, and contributes to better academic outcomes.

Dropout rates continue to decline

The report highlighted a decline in student dropout rates across key stages of schooling. During the 2025-26 academic year, the dropout rate at the preparatory level decreased from 2.3% in 2024-25 to 1.8%, while the secondary-level dropout rate fell from 8.2% to 7.0%.

The ministry said the consistent decline over the past few years reflects improved student retention and the success of initiatives designed to keep children engaged in education.

Based on the image provided, here is the data organized into a table:

Dropout Rate (%) by Educational Level

It added that the downward trend suggests schools are becoming more supportive and responsive to students' educational needs.

Student retention records further improvement

Student retention also improved during the reporting year, particularly at the middle and secondary levels.

The retention rate at the middle level increased from 82.8% in 2024-25 to 83.7% in 2025-26, while the secondary-level retention rate rose from 47.2% to 51.9%.

Student Retention Rate

The report noted that a marginal decline was observed at the foundational and preparatory levels during 2025-26 after three consecutive years of improvement between 2022-23 and 2024-25.

However, it stated that the expansion of schools offering secondary education has been one of the major factors behind the improvement at the secondary level, making education more accessible and encouraging students to continue their studies.

Overall, the ministry said the rising retention rates indicate progress in the education system and demonstrate the impact of targeted policy interventions.

Secondary enrollment continues to grow

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) also improved during the academic year. According to the report, the secondary-level GER increased from 68.5% in 2024-25 to 71.7% in 2025-26.

The ministry said the increase reflects better access to secondary education, higher student participation, and continued progress toward broader educational inclusion and retention during critical stages of schooling.

Transition rates improve at every level

The report also showed improvements in transition rates across major educational stages. The transition rate from the foundational stage to the preparatory stage increased from 98.6% in 2024-25 to 99.2% in 2025-26.

The transition rate from the preparatory stage to the middle stage improved from 92.2% to 93.8%, while the transition rate from the middle stage to the secondary stage rose from 86.6% to 88.3%.

According to the ministry, the improvement indicates that more students are progressing through the education system without dropping out during key transition points.

Fewer single-teacher and zero-enrollment schools

The UDISE+ report also documented continued reductions in the number of schools with zero enrollment and those operated by a single teacher.

According to the ministry, the Indian school system has historically included schools with no enrolled students as well as single-teacher institutions.

During the 2025-26 reporting year, the number of single-teacher schools declined by around 3% compared with the previous year, while schools with zero enrollment decreased by around 29%.

The ministry said UDISE+ findings will help authorities better plan teacher deployment and rationalize teacher allocation while maintaining balanced pupil-teacher ratios.

Digital infrastructure expands in schools

The report highlighted notable improvements in school infrastructure, particularly in digital facilities.

Schools with computer access increased from 64.7% in 2024-25 to 69.9% in 2025-26. According to the ministry, the growth reflects greater emphasis on integrating technology into classrooms, promoting digital learning, and preparing students for a technology-driven future.

Internet connectivity in schools also improved during the reporting year. The share of schools with internet access increased from 63.5% in 2024-25 to 67.4% in 2025-26.

The ministry said the improvement reflects continued efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and improve access to online educational resources, digital content, and technology-enabled teaching methods.

Basic school facilities continue to improve

The report further highlighted improvements in basic school infrastructure across the country.

According to the findings, 95.0% of schools now have electricity, 98.5% have girls' toilets, 97.2% have boys' toilets, 96.9% provide handwashing facilities, and 99.5% have access to safe drinking water.

The ministry said these improvements contribute to healthier, safer, and more student-friendly learning environments while supporting attendance, hygiene, and better educational outcomes.

The report also noted that 58.2% of schools were equipped with ramps and handrails during 2025-26, describing the development as an important step toward inclusive education by improving accessibility for students with disabilities and promoting equal learning opportunities.

Female representation sees gradual increase

The UDISE+ report also recorded improvements in female representation within the education sector.

According to the ministry, women now account for 54.9% of the country's total teaching workforce, reflecting continued progress toward greater gender balance in the teaching profession.

It said the increasing presence of female teachers contributes to more inclusive, supportive, and gender-sensitive learning environments across schools.

Girls' enrollment also registered a slight increase during the academic year. Female students accounted for 48.4% of total enrollment in 2025-26, compared with 48.3% in 2024-25.

The ministry said the increase reflects ongoing efforts to promote gender equity in education and ensure greater access to schooling and participation for girls across all levels of the education system.