Government School Enrolment Drops in 23 States: MoE Seeks Urgent Probe

A sharp decline in government school enrolment across 23 Indian states and Union Territories during 2024–25 has raised concerns in the Ministry of Education (MoE). In a recent review meeting on the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) scheme, officials were alarmed by steep enrolment drops, particularly in large states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. The ministry has directed states to investigate the reasons and submit detailed reports by June 30, 2025.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Education has expressed “deep concern” over significant declines in student enrolment in government and government-aided schools across 23 states. The issue surfaced during an April 2025 review of the PM-POSHAN scheme, revealing a potential reversal of post-pandemic trends and raising questions about student data accuracy and school choice shifts.

Key Observations from the PM-POSHAN Meetings

• Enrolment dropped in 23 states/UTs, with 8 states witnessing over 1 lakh decrease.

Major declines

• Uttar Pradesh: -21.83 lakh
• Bihar: -6.14 lakh
• Rajasthan: -5.63 lakh
• West Bengal: -4.01 lakh
• Karnataka: -2 lakh
• Assam: -1.68 lakh
• Tamil Nadu: -1.65 lakh
• Delhi: -1.05 lakh

Probable Reasons Cited by Officials

• Data Cleansing: Transition from school-wise to student-wise enrolment tracking (with Aadhaar verification) eliminated fake or duplicate “ghost” entries.
• Shift to Private Schools: Post-Covid migration back to private schooling, reversing earlier government school preference.

Impact on PM-POSHAN Scheme

• Drop in midday meal beneficiaries in multiple states.
• Delhi: -97,000 (only 60–69% coverage across categories)
• UP: -5.41 lakh
• Rajasthan: -3.27 lakh
• West Bengal: -8.04 lakh
• Reports of students bringing their own food; states urged to monitor meal quality and boost participation.

About PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman)

• Formerly the Midday Meal Scheme
• Launched: 1995
• Coverage: Children from pre-primary to Class 8 in government and government-aided schools
• Objective: Improve nutrition, attendance, attention span, and learning outcomes
• Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:State); Centre provides foodgrains

Significance of the Issue

• Signals deeper concerns in public education credibility, nutritional outreach, and data management.
• Direct impact on child development goals, school retention, and government scheme efficacy.