Enrolment of girls across the country has nudged forward to 48.4% (up from 48.3% last year).
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The Union Education Ministry on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) released the comprehensive report on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) for the academic year 2025-26 which highlights a progressive shift towards gender equity on both teaching and learning sides.
Women now form the majority of the nation’s teaching force, accounting for 54.9% of total teachers. Simultaneously, enrolment of girls across the country has nudged forward to 48.4% (up from 48.3% last year).
The preparatory level (Classes 3 to 5) dropout rate fell from 2.3% (2024-25) to 1.8% this year. More notably, secondary level (Classes 9 to 12) dropouts dipped from 8.2% to 7.0%. Dropout rate tracks the rate at which students quit school.
Student retention at the middle level (Classes 6 to 8) climbed to 83.7% (from 82.8%), while secondary level retention increased to 51.9%, up from 47.2% last year. Student retention is an educational metric that measures the percentage of students who continue their education at the same school or within the school system from one academic year to the next.
The Gross Enrolment Level Ratio (GER) at the secondary level surged to 71.7% from last year’s 68.5%. GER is a statistical measure used in education to determine the percentage of students enrolled in a specific level of education (such as primary, middle, or secondary school), regardless of their age, relative to the total population of official school-age children for that same level.
Learner progression across transitional stages grew stronger, the report noted. Notably, the transition from middle to secondary school jumped from 86.6% to 88.3%.
Also, the total number of teachers in India has risen by 8.3% compared to 2022-23. Additionally, the Ministry’s strategic rationalisation of teacher placement has resulted in a 3% reduction in single-teacher schools and a 29% drop in schools reporting zero enrolment, a statement released by the Ministry said.
One of the most notable improvements is the increase in the number of schools with computer access, increasing from 64.7% in 2024-25 to 69.9% in 2025-26. Access to internet facilities in schools has seen a considerable increase in the academic year 2025–26. The percentage of schools with internet connectivity increased from 63.5% in 2024-25 to 67.4% in 2025-26.
The report said that 95% of schools are powered with electricity, 98.5% have girls’ toilets, and 97.2% have boys’ toilets – ensuring dignity and hygiene for all students. Handwashing facilities are now available in 96.9% of schools, and access to safe drinking water has reached 99.5%.
Published – July 07, 2026 10:43 pm IST
