India’s School Teachers Cross One Crore: UDISE Report

The UDISE+ 2024–25 report, released by the Ministry of Education, offers a comprehensive view of India’s progress in school education. It reveals significant gains in teacher strength, infrastructure, enrolment, and retention, marking a decisive shift toward achieving the goals of equitable and inclusive education as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

India Crosses One Crore Teachers Milestone

For the first time since the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) was launched in 2018–19, the number of school teachers in India has crossed one crore, recording a 6.7% increase over 2022–23. This has resulted in notable improvements in Pupil-Teacher Ratios (PTR),

Foundational level: 10:1

• Preparatory level: 13:1
• Middle level: 17:1
• Secondary level: 21:1

All levels are well within the NEP 2020 recommended PTR of 30:1, pointing to stronger student support and teaching quality.

Dropout Rates Continue to Decline

India is making headway in reducing student dropouts, as shown by improvements between 2022–23 and 2024–25,

• Preparatory level: from 3.7% to 2.3%
• Middle level: from 5.2% to 3.5%
• Secondary level: from 10.9% to 8.2%

These figures indicate enhanced student retention and better educational continuity across school levels.

Enrolment and Transition Rates Improve

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), a key indicator of education access, also showed progress,

• Middle-level GER: 90.3%
• Secondary-level GER: 68.5%

Transition rates—reflecting the number of students moving from one level to the next—have also risen, suggesting a more cohesive and continuous learning experience for students nationwide.

Fewer Single-Teacher and Zero-Enrolment Schools

The report highlights a reduction in single-teacher and zero-enrolment schools, which are often associated with poor learning outcomes,

• Single-teacher schools: declined from 110,971 to 104,125
• Zero-enrolment schools: fell from 12,954 to 7,993

This points to better school management and more effective resource allocation.

Infrastructure Upgrades Enhance Learning Environment

The UDISE+ data shows strong improvements in school infrastructure,

• Electricity access: 93.6%
• Drinking water: 99.3%
• Handwashing facilities: 95.9%
• Computer availability: 64.7%
• Internet connectivity: 63.5%
• Ramps/handrails for accessibility: 54.9%

These upgrades are essential for enabling digital learning, ensuring health and safety, and promoting inclusive education.

Progress in Gender Equity

The report shows that female representation among teachers has increased to 54.2%, while girls’ enrolment has risen slightly to 48.3%. This is a promising sign of progress toward gender-balanced education systems and female empowerment through education.