School Dropout Decline to 1.9% for Primary, 5.2% for Upper Primary, 14.1% for Secondary: Economic Survey 2024-25

Significant Increase in School Technology Access with Computers at 57.2% and Internet at 53.9%; Dropout Rates Decline to 1.9% for Primary, 5.2% for Upper Primary, and 14.1% for Secondary: Economic Survey 2024-25

India’s school education system caters to 24.8 crore students across 14.72 lakh schools, supported by 98 lakh teachers, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. The Survey presented ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26also highlights significant progress in digital infrastructure, with the percentage of schools equipped with computers rising from 38.5% in 2019-20 to 57.2% in 2023-24, while internet access in schools increased from 22.3% to 53.9% over the same period. Additionally, higher education institutions (HEIs) have grown by 13.8% from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 58,643 in 2022-23.

School Education: Expanding Access and Digital Transformation

The Economic Survey underscores improvements in school infrastructure, increased enrolment, and declining dropout rates:

• Dropout rates have declined to 1.9% at the primary level, 5.2% at the upper primary level, and 14.1% at the secondary level.
• Government schools constitute 69% of total schools, enrolling 50% of students and employing 51% of teachers, while private schools account for 22.5% of schools, enrolling 32.6% of students and employing 38% of teachers.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 93% at the primary level, with efforts ongoing to bridge gaps at secondary (77.4%) and higher secondary (56.2%) levels.

The government’s efforts under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 include initiatives like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, PM SHRI, NIPUN Bharat, and TeacherApp to enhance learning outcomes, digital literacy, and foundational skills.

Growth in Higher Education Institutions

India’s higher education sector has seen a steady rise in institutions and student enrolment:

Category	2014	2023-24
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)	16	23
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)	13	20
Universities	723	1,213
Medical Colleges	387	780

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for the 18–23 age group has increased from 23.7% in 2014-15 to 28.4% in 2021-22, with a target of 50% GER by 2035.

Digital and AI Integration in Education

The Economic Survey emphasizes the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital literacy, and skill-based education to prepare students for Industry 4.0. TeacherApp has been introduced to enhance educators' capabilities in digital learning.

The report also highlights that increased investments in infrastructure, technology, faculty development, and research collaborations are critical for ensuring the quality and accessibility of education across all levels in India.

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