Why in News A NITI Aayog analysis released on May 8, 2026 – based on UDISE+ 2024-25 data – shows Jharkhand has recorded 0% primary-stage dropout, a sharp fall from 11%+ in 2022-23 and 6.41% in 2014-15. The report also flags Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as reporting near-zero figures, alongside concerns about data validity.
The Headline Numbers
| Education stage | Jharkhand 2014-15 | Jharkhand 2022-23 | Jharkhand 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary (Grade 1-5) | 6.41% | 11%+ | 0% |
| Upper Primary (Grade 6-8) | – | 7.42% | 1.7% |
| Secondary (Grade 9-10) | – | 23.2% | 3.5% |
The same UDISE+ analysis flags four states reporting zero or near-zero primary dropouts:
- Jharkhand
- Telangana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
What is UDISE+?
UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) is the principal management information system for school education in India.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operating ministry | Ministry of Education (MoE) – Department of School Education and Literacy |
| Pre-cursor | DISE (1995), then UDISE (2012), and UDISE+ (since 2018-19) |
| Coverage | ~15 lakh schools (govt + private); 25 crore+ students |
| Data captured | Enrolment, attendance, infrastructure, teachers, learning outcomes |
| Reporting unit | School-level (UDISE+ code) |
| Recent reform | Student-level individual tracking (PEN – Permanent Education Number) since 2024-25 |
UDISE+ is the data backbone for:
- Samagra Shiksha scheme allocations
- PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) outlay
- NIPUN Bharat (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy)
- NEP 2020 monitoring
- Performance Grading Index (PGI) – both state-level and district-level
How Dropout is Measured
UDISE+ uses two principal measures:
- Annual average dropout rate (AADR): cohort-based, comparing enrolment from one academic year to the next.
- Retention rate: proportion of students still in school at the end of a given stage.
A school year’s “0%” dropout means: of the cohort that began the previous year, all are either continuing in school or have legitimately transitioned (e.g., to upper primary).
Why “0%” Is Unusually Low
- Even Kerala, which has India’s strongest school ecosystem, reports small positive dropout rates owing to migration and inter-state movement.
- Some level of administrative dropout (data-cleaning of duplicate enrolments) is expected.
- A 0% figure therefore requires close validation – which the NITI Aayog report explicitly acknowledges.
Drivers of Improvement in Jharkhand
| Factor | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Samagra Shiksha funds | Sharper targeting to high-dropout blocks |
| Right to Education (RTE), 2009 | Compulsory schooling Grade 1-8; Article 21A |
| PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) | Nutrition incentive; raises attendance |
| Tribal scholarships | Pre-matric scholarships, MoTA-funded EMRS schools |
| Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) | Reduces drop-off in tribal blocks |
| Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) | Uniform, scholarship, cycle schemes via DBT |
| State Right to Education enforcement | District task forces, IEC campaigns |
| Aadhaar-based individual tracking (APAAR / PEN) | Real-time student-level data; harder to lose track |
Caveats and Concerns
The NITI Aayog analysis itself notes data quality concerns:
- Possible underestimation of “out-of-school” children – children not enrolled at all are not in UDISE+ at all.
- Reporting delays and revisions – state data submitted to UDISE+ undergo correction over many months.
- Migration-driven mismeasurement – inter-state migrant children may be counted as continuing in source state.
- “Stage transition” definitional choices – a child who completes Grade 5 but does not enrol in Grade 6 is a Grade 6 dropout, not a Grade 5 dropout. This shifts dropout perception across stages.
- Tribal pockets: in remote Jharkhand blocks, school enrolment registers may not capture genuinely out-of-school children if they were never enrolled.
A more comprehensive metric is the Adjusted Net Enrolment Rate (ANER) which captures both dropouts and never-enrolled children.
The National Picture (UDISE+ 2024-25 – Selected Indicators)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total schools | ~14.7 lakh |
| Total students | ~24.8 crore |
| Total teachers | ~98 lakh |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) | Primary 26:1; Upper Primary 19:1; Secondary 18:1 |
| Schools without electricity | ~1.19 lakh (per recent NITI Aayog report) |
| Schools without functional toilets | A small but persistent share |
| Schools with internet | ~57%-58% |
The Bigger Policy Picture
Right to Education Act, 2009
- Operationalises Article 21A (86th Constitutional Amendment, 2002)
- Free and compulsory education for ages 6-14
- 25% reservation in private schools for disadvantaged students
National Education Policy 2020
- Restructured stages: 5+3+3+4 (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, Secondary)
- FLN goals by 2026-27 through NIPUN Bharat
- Universal access by 2030
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) target for higher education: 50% by 2035
Samagra Shiksha (Integrated Scheme)
- Launched 2018 (merged SSA + RMSA + Teacher Education)
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme; 60:40 funding (90:10 for NE and Himalayan states)
PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal renamed 2021)
- ~11.2 crore children covered across govt + govt-aided schools
- Bal Vatika and Grade 1-8 coverage; some states extend to higher classes
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 2 – Social Justice, Governance, Education
- Right to Education Act, 2009; Article 21A
- NEP 2020 implementation
- Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, NIPUN Bharat
- UDISE+ as governance tool
GS Paper 1 – Society
- Educational deprivation; tribal education
- Gender and dropouts
- Migration and schooling
Mains Angles
- Examine the policy and administrative drivers behind Jharkhand’s dropout reduction. What does it reveal about the limits of data-driven governance?
- Discuss the limitations of UDISE+ in capturing the true scale of out-of-school children in India.
- Critically evaluate the implementation of NEP 2020’s foundational literacy goals.
Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia
Jharkhand dropout (UDISE+ 2024-25):
- Primary stage: 0% (down from 11%+ in 2022-23; 6.41% in 2014-15)
- Upper primary: 7.42% -> 1.7%
- Secondary: 23.2% -> 3.5%
- Other zero/near-zero states: Telangana, UP, MP
UDISE+:
- Operator: Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
- Covers ~14.7 lakh schools; ~24.8 crore students; ~98 lakh teachers
- History: DISE (1995) -> UDISE (2012) -> UDISE+ (2018-19)
- Student-level tracking (PEN / APAAR) from 2024-25
Right to Education Act, 2009:
- Operationalises Article 21A (86th CAA, 2002)
- Free, compulsory education ages 6-14
- 25% RTE reservation in private schools
National Education Policy 2020:
- Approved July 2020; replaced NEP 1986 (1992 amended)
- 5+3+3+4 structure
- FLN target year: 2026-27
- GER (higher education) target: 50% by 2035
Samagra Shiksha: Launched 2018 (SSA + RMSA + Teacher Ed merger); CSS, 60:40 funding (90:10 NE/Himalayan).
PM POSHAN: Renamed 2021 (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme, launched 1995); covers ~11.2 crore children.
