The total number of government schools nationwide has dropped from 10,22,386 in 2021-22 to 10,05,245 in 2025-26. Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of government schools, reporting 1,37,103 institutions in 2025-26. The Ministry of Education stated that state governments and Union Territory administrations manage school openings, mergers, and closures.
Government School Numbers Decline
Data submitted by states and UTs shows a decrease in government schools over five years. The Ministry of Education confirmed this trend. Decisions on school mergers and closures are the responsibility of states and UTs. This is because education is on the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
The National Education Policy (NEP) permits school consolidation. However, this must be done carefully. It must not negatively impact students' access to education. This was stated by Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary.
Uttar Pradesh Tops School Count
Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of government schools. The state recorded 1,37,103 schools in the 2025-26 academic year. This figure highlights the state's significant educational infrastructure.
Impact on Disadvantaged Students
The Ministry provided data on enrollment and retention. This aims to assess the impact of school mergers on girls, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) students. The Gross Enrolment Ratio for these groups was shared for 2024-25 and 2025-26. The retention rate for girls across different schooling stages was also reported.
Samagra Shiksha Scheme Details
The government provides financial aid through the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. This funding supports school infrastructure and access. It also helps maintain pupil-teacher ratios. Support is given for student enrollment and retention. This includes children with special needs.
However, the central government has not fully released its share of funds for the scheme. Over the last five years, only 80% of the annual budget share was released. In 2025-26, this figure dropped to 78% . The center withheld over 20% of its share annually for five years. This underfunding also affects the PM School for Rising India (PM-SHRI) initiative.
Learning Assessments Underway
Learning outcomes are being assessed nationwide. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 is conducting this assessment. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is responsible for the survey. Over 21.15 lakh students and 2.70 lakh teachers participated. The survey covered more than 74,000 schools across 781 districts. Its goal is to establish baseline competencies under NEP 2020.
