Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh see largest declines; NEP-induced data revamp cited
The enrolment of students in government schools across India has dropped by over 1.87 crore in just two years, according to new data presented in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Education. The fall comes after a pandemic-era peak in 2021-22, when government school enrolment had touched 14.32 crore.
As per the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), the number has now come down to 12.75 crore in 2023-24, raising concerns about shifts back to private schooling or dropouts due to various socio-economic reasons.
Sharpest Decline in Top States (2021-22 vs 2023-24)
The following table highlights states with the largest fall in government school enrolment over the past two academic years:
| State |
2021-22 |
2023-24 |
Drop in Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh |
1,90,56,651 |
1,58,68,581 |
31,88,070 |
| Bihar |
2,19,89,445 |
1,74,66,574 |
45,22,871 |
| Rajasthan |
99,12,280 |
83,81,575 |
15,30,705 |
| Madhya Pradesh |
94,29,734 |
86,71,760 |
7,57,974 |
| Andhra Pradesh |
46,96,207 |
40,50,116 |
6,46,091 |
| Telangana |
33,03,699 |
27,79,713 |
5,23,986 |
| Haryana |
26,02,484 |
22,30,123 |
3,72,361 |
| Delhi |
27,96,676 |
25,71,404 |
2,25,272 |
Observation: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for nearly 77 lakh fewer students combined.
National Trend
| Year |
Total Enrolment (India) |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 |
13,09,31,634 |
| 2020-21 |
13,49,04,560 |
| 2021-22 (peak) |
14,32,40,480 |
| 2022-23 |
13,62,04,917 |
| 2023-24 |
12,74,90,199 |
Govt Explanation: Methodology Shift & Policy Steps
The Ministry in its reply to a question in Lok Sabha has clarified that comparisons are statistically different post-2022, due to a major shift in the UDISE+ system. From 2022-23 onwards, data is captured per individual student, transitioning away from gross enrolment, as part of NEP 2020 reforms.
To address the decline and improve enrolment, the Centre continues to support states through schemes such as:
- Samagra Shiksha
- PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) for classes up to 8
- Residential schools/hostels (e.g., KGBVs, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Vidyalayas)
- Transport allowances, ICT labs, vocational training
- Free textbooks and uniforms
In 2024-25 alone, ₹34,458 crore has been allocated under Samagra Shiksha to States and UTs.
States With Minor or Stable Enrolment
A few states such as West Bengal, Odisha, and Kerala showed relatively stable or modest enrolment decline, with reductions under 6 lakh during the same period.
While the Ministry links the figures to changes in data methodology, the magnitude of enrolment decline, especially in major Hindi heartland states, signals deeper structural and socio-economic shifts. Analysts point out the need for more granular public data on student migration, dropout reasons, and quality of government schooling to fully assess the trend.
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