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Country Education Tracker

India Education System Changes & Policy Tracker

India has one of the world’s largest education systems, with a federal structure involving central, state and board-level authorities. The system includes compulsory elementary education, board-based secondary schooling, a large higher education sector and expanding vocational and digital education initiatives. Education policy tracking should account for national reforms as well as significant state-level variation in calendars, implementation and examinations.

6Tracked Changes
2High Impact
2026-06-30Latest Update
2Active Areas

Country Education Profile

Official NameRepublic of India
ISO CodeIN
RegionAsia
SubregionSouthern Asia
Capital / SeatNew Delhi
Compulsory EducationFree and compulsory education is constitutionally guaranteed for children aged 6 to 14, generally covering elementary education from Classes 1 to 8 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
School StructureIndia’s school system is being aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 framework of 5+3+3+4: foundational stage, preparatory stage, middle stage and secondary stage. In practice, schools are commonly organized as pre-primary, primary, upper primary, secondary and senior secondary levels, with Classes 10 and 12 serving as major board-examination stages.
Academic YearThe academic year varies by state, board and climate region. Many CBSE-affiliated and private schools follow an April to March session, while several state systems operate calendars beginning around June after summer breaks.
Main ExamsMajor examinations include Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations conducted by CBSE, CISCE and state boards, plus national entrance and eligibility tests such as JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET, UGC-NET and CSIR NET conducted or administered through the National Testing Agency. States and institutions may also run separate entrance or recruitment examinations.
Higher EducationHigher education is overseen by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, with the University Grants Commission responsible for coordination and standards in university education. Technical, medical, teacher education and professional programmes also involve specialized regulatory bodies.
Vocational EducationVocational and skill education is delivered through secondary schools, industrial training institutes, polytechnics, community colleges, higher education institutions and national skill-development schemes. National policy emphasizes integrating vocational exposure into school and higher education pathways.
Digital EducationKey digital education platforms include DIKSHA for school education resources and teacher support, SWAYAM for online courses, SWAYAM Prabha for educational broadcasting, and the Academic Bank of Credits for higher education credit mobility.
GovernanceEducation governance in India is shared between the Union government and state governments. The Ministry of Education sets national policy and centrally sponsored schemes, while states manage most public school systems, curricula implementation, recruitment and school calendars. Multiple school boards operate nationally and at state level.
International Student NoteIndia is relevant for international students in higher education, medical and technical education, language study, and scholarship-linked mobility. Admission rules vary by institution, programme, regulatory body and nationality, so official university and regulator guidance should be checked.
Last Verified2026-07-06

Latest Education Changes

2026-06-21Impact 66

CBSE Revises Class XII Post-Result Review Process and Fees (India, June 2026)

CBSE issued guidance for the Class XII 2026 post-result process covering verification of issues observed, re-evaluation, DigiLocker publication of revised records, inspection in no-change cases, and reduced fees. The guidance followed the opening of the online portal for verification and re-evaluation applications.

2026-06-09Impact 78

UGC Sets Final 30 June 2026 Deadline for ABC Credit Data Uploads (India, June 2026)

The University Grants Commission required all credit-awarding higher education institutions to upload Examination Year 2025 academic records and credit data to the NAD/Academic Bank of Credits platform by 30 June 2026. UGC stated that the upload window would close after the deadline, with fresh uploads no longer permitted except corrections in exceptional cases.

2026-06-08Impact 58

NMC Clarifies FMG Compensation, Internship and Registration Rules (India, June 2026)

The National Medical Commission issued frequently asked questions to guide implementation of rules affecting foreign medical graduates who completed compensatory physical training after pandemic- or conflict-related disruption. The guidance supports uniform handling of compensation certificates, internship requirements, and registration decisions.

Education System Statistics

India Education System Statistics

This module summarizes India’s national education system using school administrative data, higher education survey data, official finance data, national policy documents, and high-trust government reports. Source years differ because school data, higher education data, budget data, and examination information are collected on separate reporting calendars.

Coverage: National education system School data: UDISE+ 2024-25 Higher education: AISHE 2021-22 Governance model: Union-state shared responsibility Main authority: Ministry of Education

Education System Snapshot

Values use the latest verified source year available for each source system. Crore and lakh are retained where they match Indian official reporting.

Compulsory education age band
6-14
RTE Act, statutory age group
School students
24.69 crore
UDISE+ 2024-25
Schools
14.71 lakh
UDISE+ 2024-25
School teachers
1.01 crore
UDISE+ 2024-25
Primary GER
90.9%
Grades 1-5, UDISE+ 2024-25
Higher secondary GER
58.4%
Grades 11-12, UDISE+ 2024-25
Primary enrolment
10.43 crore
Grades 1-5, UDISE+ 2024-25
Government school enrolment
12.16 crore
Management type, UDISE+ 2024-25
Private unaided school enrolment
9.59 crore
Management type, UDISE+ 2024-25
Higher education enrolment
4.33 crore
AISHE academic year 2021-22
Higher education GER
28.4
Age 18-23, AISHE 2021-22
Ministry of Education allocation
₹1,39,289 crore
Union Budget FY 2026-27

India School Pathway: 5+3+3+4 Structure

The National Education Policy 2020 describes a 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure covering ages 3-18. The legal compulsory education band under the RTE Act covers ages 6-14.

Foundational Stage
Ages 3-8
Anganwadi, pre-school or Balvatika plus Grades 1-2
Preparatory Stage
Ages 8-11
Grades 3-5, broad subject introduction
Middle Stage
Ages 11-14
Grades 6-8, subject-based learning
Secondary Stage
Ages 14-18
Grades 9-12, general, board, vocational, and post-school routes
Transition Point
Grade 10
Board or state-level secondary certification route, depending on board and state
Higher Education Entry
After Grade 12
Board results, institution rules, and entrance routes such as JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET, or state exams

Governance and Responsibility Map

Education is administered through Union, state, board, regulator, and institution-level roles. National data should be read with state and board variation in mind.

Ministry of Education

Leads national school and higher education policy, UDISE+, AISHE, national schemes, and Union-level education reporting.

States and UTs

Operate or regulate most schools, manage local implementation, teacher deployment, school calendars, and many school boards.

Boards and exam bodies

CBSE, CISCE, state boards, NIOS, NTA, and other bodies manage board exams, open schooling, and entrance testing routes.

Higher education regulators

UGC, AICTE, professional councils, universities, and accreditation bodies shape institutional rules, programme approval, and quality assurance.

School Enrolment by Level

Reported enrolment by level in UDISE+ 2024-25, shown in crore students.

Pre-primary school: 1.40 crore Primary: 10.43 crore Upper primary: 6.36 crore Secondary: 3.71 crore Higher secondary: 2.76 crore

The chart uses rounded level values from UDISE+ 2024-25 as reported in the NITI Aayog school education report. Rounded level values may not sum exactly to the national total.

Chart analysis
  • Primary education has the largest reported enrolment at 10.43 crore students.
  • Higher secondary enrolment is 2.76 crore, lower than secondary enrolment of 3.71 crore.
  • Level values reflect school-year reporting and should not be combined with AISHE higher education totals.

School Provision by Management Type

Schools and students by management type, UDISE+ 2024-25.

Government: 10,13,322 schools; 12,15,89,911 students Private unaided: 3,39,583 schools; 9,58,56,710 students Government aided: 79,349 schools; 2,47,61,526 students Others: 39,219 schools; 47,24,533 students

Management categories follow UDISE+ source definitions. Counts represent recognized source categories and should not be treated as a school-quality ranking.

Chart analysis
  • Government schools account for 10,13,322 of 14,71,473 schools.
  • Private unaided schools report 9,58,56,710 students, compared with 12,15,89,911 in government schools.
  • Government-aided schools are a smaller category by school count but report 2,47,61,526 students.

Gross Enrolment Ratio by School Stage

UDISE+ 2024-25 GER values for primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary stages.

Primary: 90.9% Upper primary: 90.3% Secondary: 78.7% Higher secondary: 58.4%

GER can exceed or fall below 100% because the numerator counts all students enrolled at a level, while the denominator uses the official age-group population for that level.

Chart analysis
  • Primary and upper primary GER values are close: 90.9% and 90.3%.
  • The reported GER drops to 78.7% at secondary and 58.4% at higher secondary.
  • GER is an access and participation measure; it is not a learning outcome score.

National Education System Indicators

This table combines school administrative data, higher education survey data, policy structure, finance allocations, and transition indicators. Source years are shown separately.

India national education system indicators with units, source years, and source systems.
Area Indicator Value Unit Source year Source Notes
Governance Education responsibility Union-state shared Governance model Current law and policy Ministry of Education / parliamentary replies Most schools operate under state or UT administration, with Union-level policy and schemes.
Compulsory education Age group covered by RTE Act 6-14 Years of age Act in force India Code / RTE Act Free and compulsory elementary education applies to children in the 6-14 age group.
School structure NEP school structure 5+3+3+4 Stage model 2020 policy National Education Policy 2020 Covers ages 3-18 across foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages.
School structure Foundational stage age band 3-8 Years of age 2020 policy National Education Policy 2020 Includes pre-school or Anganwadi years plus Grades 1-2.
School structure Preparatory stage age band 8-11 Years of age 2020 policy National Education Policy 2020 Usually aligns with Grades 3-5.
School structure Middle stage age band 11-14 Years of age 2020 policy National Education Policy 2020 Usually aligns with Grades 6-8.
School structure Secondary stage age band 14-18 Years of age 2020 policy National Education Policy 2020 Usually aligns with Grades 9-12.
Enrollment Total school enrolment 24.69 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Includes pre-primary school through higher secondary as reported by UDISE+.
Schools Total schools 14.71 lakh Schools School year 2024-25 UDISE+ All management types in the UDISE+ school system snapshot.
Teachers Total school teachers 1.01 crore Teachers School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Teacher headcount reported in the school system dataset.
Management Government schools 10,13,322 Schools School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Government management category.
Management Government school enrolment 12,15,89,911 Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Students reported in government schools.
Management Private unaided schools 3,39,583 Schools School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Private unaided recognized school category.
Management Private unaided enrolment 9,58,56,710 Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Students reported in private unaided schools.
Management Government-aided schools 79,349 Schools School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Privately managed schools receiving public support.
Management Government-aided enrolment 2,47,61,526 Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Students reported in government-aided schools.
Management Other management schools 39,219 Schools School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Other source-defined management category.
Management Other management enrolment 47,24,533 Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ Students reported in the other management category.
Level enrolment Pre-primary school enrolment 1.40 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Pre-primary school reporting excludes some early childhood provision outside school data.
Level enrolment Primary enrolment 10.43 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grades 1-5.
Level enrolment Upper primary enrolment 6.36 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grades 6-8.
Level enrolment Secondary enrolment 3.71 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grades 9-10.
Level enrolment Higher secondary enrolment 2.76 crore Students School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grades 11-12.
Gross enrolment ratio Primary GER 90.9% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / PIB Economic Survey release Grades 1-5.
Gross enrolment ratio Upper primary GER 90.3% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / PIB Economic Survey release Grades 6-8.
Gross enrolment ratio Secondary GER 78.7% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / PIB Economic Survey release Grades 9-10.
Gross enrolment ratio Higher secondary GER 58.4% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / PIB Economic Survey release Grades 11-12.
Dropout Primary dropout rate 0.3% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Primary school stage.
Dropout Upper primary dropout rate 3.5% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Upper primary stage.
Dropout Secondary dropout rate 11.5% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Secondary stage.
Teachers Primary pupil-teacher ratio 20 Students per teacher School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / parliamentary annexure Grades 1-5 PTR.
Teachers Upper primary pupil-teacher ratio 17 Students per teacher School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / parliamentary annexure Grades 6-8 PTR.
Teachers Secondary pupil-teacher ratio 15 Students per teacher School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / parliamentary annexure Grades 9-10 PTR.
Teachers Higher secondary pupil-teacher ratio 23 Students per teacher School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / parliamentary annexure Grades 11-12 PTR.
Transition Primary to upper primary transition 92.2% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grade 5 to Grade 6 transition.
Transition Upper primary to secondary transition 86.6% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grade 8 to Grade 9 transition.
Transition Secondary to higher secondary transition 75.11% Percent School year 2024-25 UDISE+ / NITI Aayog report Grade 10 to Grade 11 transition.
Higher education Higher education enrolment 4.33 crore Students Academic year 2021-22 AISHE All India Survey on Higher Education.
Higher education Female higher education enrolment 2.07 crore Students Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Reported female enrolment in higher education.
Higher education Universities and university-level institutions 1,168 Institutions registered Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Registered in the AISHE survey.
Higher education Colleges 45,473 Colleges registered Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Registered colleges in AISHE.
Higher education Stand-alone institutions 12,002 Institutions registered Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Stand-alone institution category in AISHE.
Higher education Higher education GER 28.4 Ratio, age 18-23 Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Population projection based on 2011 Census in AISHE reporting.
Higher education Higher education teachers 15.98 lakh Teachers / faculty Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Teacher and faculty count reported by AISHE.
International students Foreign students enrolled in India 46,878 Students Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Foreign nationals or students reported by responding institutions.
Distance higher education Distance mode enrolment 45.73 lakh Students Academic year 2021-22 AISHE Distance mode higher education enrolment.
Finance Ministry of Education allocation ₹1,39,289 crore Nominal rupees, budget allocation FY 2026-27 Union Budget / PIB Central government budget allocation; not total national education spending.
Finance Department of School Education and Literacy allocation ₹83,562 crore Nominal rupees, budget allocation FY 2026-27 Union Budget / PIB Central department allocation for school education and literacy.
Finance Department of Higher Education allocation ₹55,727 crore Nominal rupees, budget allocation FY 2026-27 Union Budget / PIB Central department allocation for higher education.

Education Levels and Routes

Level names align official Indian stage language with broad ISCED reference points. Ages are typical and can vary by school, state, board, and admission practice.

India education levels, typical ages, grades, and governance notes.
Level Typical age Years or grades ISCED alignment Authority or governance Notes
Early childhood / pre-primary Usually 3-6 Anganwadi, pre-school, Balvatika ISCED 0, where mapped State systems, early childhood services, schools, and related ministries School-based pre-primary enrolment is reported in UDISE+, while some early childhood provision sits outside school data.
Foundational school years Usually 6-8 Grades 1-2 ISCED 1 start State and school boards under national and state rules Included in the NEP foundational stage with pre-school years.
Preparatory stage Usually 8-11 Grades 3-5 ISCED 1 State systems, CBSE, CISCE, and other boards Part of primary education in UDISE+ level reporting.
Middle stage Usually 11-14 Grades 6-8 ISCED 2 State systems and school boards Falls within the RTE age band for most students.
Secondary education Usually 14-16 Grades 9-10 ISCED 3, local mapping varies State boards, CBSE, CISCE, NIOS, and other recognized boards Often ends with a Class 10 board or equivalent certification route.
Higher secondary education Usually 16-18 Grades 11-12 ISCED 3 State boards, CBSE, CISCE, NIOS, and other recognized boards Often connects to university, professional, vocational, and entrance-test routes.
School vocational route Usually secondary and higher secondary Often Grades 9-12, where offered ISCED 3 vocational, where mapped School systems, skill bodies, boards, and state implementation agencies Vocational provision varies by state, board, and programme.
Short-cycle and diploma routes Post-school Diploma or short-cycle routes ISCED 4 or 5, depending on programme AICTE, state technical boards, sector and professional bodies Not all diploma routes are counted the same way in school and higher education datasets.
Bachelor’s or equivalent Usually after Grade 12 Usually 3-4 years, programme-dependent ISCED 6 Universities, UGC, AICTE, professional councils, and institutions Admission rules vary by programme, institution, state, and entrance route.
Master’s or equivalent Post-bachelor’s Usually 1-2 years, programme-dependent ISCED 7 Universities and regulators Reported in AISHE higher education data.
Doctoral education Postgraduate level Programme-dependent ISCED 8 Universities, regulators, and research institutions Reported in AISHE by level and discipline.

Exams and Transition Routes

India has national boards, state boards, open schooling, and entrance-test routes. There is no single national school-leaving exam for all students.

Major school and post-school transition points in India.
Transition Exam or process Typical stage Managing authority Purpose Source note
Primary to upper primary School progression Grade 5 to Grade 6 State systems and boards Continuation from primary to upper primary UDISE+ 2024-25 transition rate: 92.2%.
Upper primary to secondary School progression and board/state rules Grade 8 to Grade 9 State systems and boards Entry to secondary schooling UDISE+ 2024-25 transition rate: 86.6%.
Secondary certification Class 10 board or equivalent examination Grade 10 CBSE, CISCE, state boards, NIOS, and other recognized boards Secondary completion and onward stream selection Board-specific data should not be merged as one national exam count.
Secondary to higher secondary Board results, school admission, stream choice Grade 10 to Grade 11 State systems, boards, and schools Entry to higher secondary general or vocational routes UDISE+ 2024-25 transition rate: 75.11%.
Higher secondary completion Class 12 board or equivalent examination Grade 12 CBSE, CISCE, state boards, NIOS, and other recognized boards School completion and eligibility for tertiary or professional routes Results are published by each board or exam body.
Engineering entrance route JEE Main and related admission processes After Grade 12 or equivalent National Testing Agency and participating institutions Engineering and technical programme admission route NTA publishes public notices and result information for JEE Main.
Medical entrance route NEET UG After Grade 12 or equivalent National Testing Agency and medical admission authorities Undergraduate medical, dental, and related programme admission route NTA NEET portal publishes notices and exam information.
University entrance route CUET and institution-specific routes where used After Grade 12 or equivalent NTA, universities, and state/institution systems Admission to participating higher education institutions Admission method varies by university and programme.
Open schooling route NIOS secondary and senior secondary examinations Secondary and higher secondary equivalents National Institute of Open Schooling Flexible certification route for school-level learners NIOS reporting is separate from most regular board systems.
Vocational certification Board, state, sector, or institution route Secondary, higher secondary, or post-school Boards, states, skill bodies, and providers Occupational or technical certification Definitions vary by programme and source system.

Higher Education and International Student Indicators

AISHE data use an academic-year reference period and should not be merged with school-year UDISE+ values without a stated method.

AISHE 2021-22 higher education indicators for India.
Indicator group Indicator Value Unit Source year Coverage note
Institutions Universities and university-level institutions registered 1,168 Institutions Academic year 2021-22 AISHE registered institutions.
Institutions Colleges registered 45,473 Colleges Academic year 2021-22 Affiliated and constituent college category in AISHE.
Institutions Stand-alone institutions registered 12,002 Institutions Academic year 2021-22 Teacher training, nursing, polytechnic, PGDM, and other stand-alone categories as defined by AISHE.
Enrollment Total higher education enrolment 4.33 crore Students Academic year 2021-22 All levels and modes included in AISHE reporting.
Enrollment Female higher education enrolment 2.07 crore Students Academic year 2021-22 Female enrolment across higher education levels.
Participation Higher education GER 28.4 Ratio, age 18-23 Academic year 2021-22 AISHE GER based on age-group population projection.
Teachers Higher education teachers / faculty 15.98 lakh Teachers Academic year 2021-22 Faculty or teachers reported by institutions.
Teachers Higher education PTR, regular mode 24 Students per teacher Academic year 2021-22 Universities and colleges together, regular mode.
Teachers Higher education PTR, regular and distance together 28 Students per teacher Academic year 2021-22 Universities and colleges together, regular and distance modes.
Distance education Distance mode enrolment 45.73 lakh Students Academic year 2021-22 Distance mode higher education enrolment.
International students Foreign students enrolled in India 46,878 Students Academic year 2021-22 Foreign nationals or students in responding institutions.
STEM STEM enrolment 98,49,488 Students Academic year 2021-22 Science plus engineering and technology streams at UG, PG, M.Phil., and Ph.D. levels.
STEM Engineering and technology enrolment 41,31,303 Students Academic year 2021-22 Engineering and technology stream across reported higher education levels.
STEM Science enrolment 57,18,185 Students Academic year 2021-22 Science stream across UG, PG, M.Phil., and Ph.D. levels.

Source-Year Crosswalk

This table shows why India indicators in the same module may carry different source years.

Source-year crosswalk for India education system indicators.
Indicator area Primary source Collection type Source year Use in module
Schools, students, teachers UDISE+ School administrative data School year 2024-25 School counts, enrolment, teachers, management split, GER, PTR, dropout, transition.
System structure National Education Policy 2020 Policy document 2020 5+3+3+4 pathway and stage age bands.
Compulsory education RTE Act Law Act in force 6-14 compulsory elementary education band.
Higher education AISHE Institution survey Academic year 2021-22 Higher education enrolment, institutions, teachers, GER, distance mode, foreign students.
Budget allocation Union Budget and PIB release Fiscal budget FY 2026-27 Ministry, school education, and higher education central budget allocations.
Board and entrance routes CBSE and NTA portals Exam administration records and notices Varies by exam cycle Transition-route descriptions without merging board-specific candidate counts.

Data Interpretation Notes

The following notes define safe use of the indicators in this country module.

School and higher education years differ

UDISE+ 2024-25 and AISHE 2021-22 use different collection systems. School and higher education enrolment should not be added as one learner total without method.

Union allocation is not total national spending

The Union Budget allocation is central government spending authority. State budgets, local spending, household spending, and institutional revenue are separate finance streams.

GER is not a test score

Gross enrolment ratio measures participation relative to official age-group population. It does not measure learning achievement or completion quality.

Board routes are not one single exam

Class 10 and Class 12 certification is administered by CBSE, state boards, CISCE, NIOS, and other recognized boards. Candidate counts should remain board-specific.

Sources and Methodology

UDISE+

Used for school system totals, management categories, enrolment, GER, PTR, dropout, and transition indicators for school year 2024-25.

UDISE+ portal

NITI Aayog School Education System in India Report

Used as a high-trust government report for UDISE+ 2024-25 level enrolment, management split, transition, and dropout readouts.

NITI Aayog report

National Education Policy 2020

Used for the 5+3+3+4 school pathway and typical age bands for foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages.

National Education Policy 2020

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act

Used for the compulsory education age band and statutory elementary education note.

RTE Act text

AISHE

Used for higher education institutions, enrolment, teachers, GER, distance mode, STEM, and foreign student indicators for academic year 2021-22.

AISHE portal

AISHE Final Report 2021-22

Used for detailed higher education values, including 4.33 crore total enrolment, 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges, 12,002 stand-alone institutions, 15.98 lakh teachers, and 46,878 foreign students.

AISHE 2021-22 report

Press Information Bureau: Economic Survey education release

Used as a government release confirming UDISE+ 2024-25 GER values for primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary stages.

PIB Economic Survey release

Union Budget and PIB education allocation release

Used for FY 2026-27 Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, and Department of Higher Education allocation values.

PIB Budget 2026-27 release

CBSE and NTA official portals

Used for board and entrance-route identification. Candidate counts are not merged because India uses multiple board and entrance systems.

CBSE examination statistics

National Testing Agency

Method: Administrative school values are reported from UDISE+ 2024-25 and rounded where the source uses lakh or crore. Higher education values are from AISHE 2021-22 and use its academic-year survey definitions. Budget values are nominal Union Budget allocations for FY 2026-27 and do not represent total public and private education spending in India. Percentages, ratios, and counts retain their source definitions.

Methodological Safety Note

Indicators from different years, definitions, sectors, and source systems should not be merged without a stated method. School-year, academic-year, fiscal-year, survey-year, and board-exam values describe different parts of the education system.