School Infrastructure Insights from UDISE+ 2024-25
Progress, Gaps, and Pathways Forward

India’s school infrastructure has long been a cornerstone of equitable education, especially under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which stresses universal access to safe, digital-ready, and inclusive facilities. The latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report for 2024-25, released by the Ministry of Education, paints an encouraging yet nuanced picture. Drawing from UDISEPlus 2024-25 data, this exploration delves into state-wise data on key amenities like drinking water, toilets, electricity, computers, internet, ramps for children with special needs (CWSN), and more. Nationally, coverage is robust – over 99% for drinking water and functional toilets – but regional disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions.

For the complete report, head to the Official UDISE+ Portal. This analysis focuses on percentages of schools with these facilities, revealing strengths in southern and union territory (UT) regions while flagging challenges in the north-east and parts of the north.

National Snapshot: Strong Foundations with Digital Lags

Across 1,471,473 schools, the UDISE+ data shows impressive strides in basics:

  • Drinking Water: 99.3% of schools equipped, with 99.0% functional.
  • Toilets: 96.8% have girls’ toilets (95.3% functional); 94.5% boys’ toilets (90.7% functional).
  • Electricity: 93.7% access, 92.0% functional.
  • Computers: 64.7% available, but only 58.0% functional for pedagogy.
  • Internet: 63.5% connectivity, underscoring the digital divide.
  • Ramps for CWSN: 75.5% (72.0% with handrails); 35.6% have dedicated CWSN toilets.
The UDISE+ 2024-25 data for India’s 1,471,473 schools highlights significant progress in foundational infrastructure, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of inclusive and tech-enabled education. Nearly all schools (99.3%) have drinking water, with 99% functional, and over 94% provide functional toilets for girls (95.3%) and boys (90.7%), supporting equitable access and girl-child retention. Electricity is available in 93.7% of schools, with 92% functional, creating a conducive learning environment. However, digital infrastructure lags, with only 64.7% of schools equipped with computers (58% functional for teaching) and 63.5% with internet access, underscoring a persistent digital divide. Inclusivity for children with special needs (CWSN) also faces gaps, with 75.5% of schools offering ramps (72% with handrails) but only 35.6% providing dedicated CWSN toilets.
These disparities, particularly in digital functionality and CWSN facilities, highlight the urgent need for maintenance and targeted investments to fully realize NEP’s goals by 2030.


Table 1: National Infrastructure Coverage (Source: UDISE+ 2024-25)

Indicator % Schools with Facility % Functional
Drinking Water 99.3% 99.0%
Girls’ Toilets 96.6% 93.3%
Boys’ Toilets 94.5% 90.7%
Electricity 93.7% 92.0%
Computers 64.7% 58.0%
Internet 63.5% –

Regional Variations: Southern Excellence and North-eastern Challenges

Southern States and UTs lead in most metrics, benefiting from urban density and policy focus. Northern and north-eastern regions lag, often due to geography and resource constraints. Here’s a state-wise breakdown of select indicators:

Drinking Water and Sanitation: Near-Universal, But Functionality Matters

All states exceed 95% for drinking water, with Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, and Kerala at 100%. Functional rates dip slightly in Arunachal Pradesh (90.7%) and Meghalaya (68.7% for girls’ toilets – yes, hand wash, but toilets specifically show gaps). Bihar shines in availability (99.7%) but needs upkeep for functionality.

  • Top Performers (Girls’ Toilets %): Andaman & Nicobar (100%), Lakshadweep (100%), Chandigarh (99.5%).
  • Areas for Improvement: Meghalaya (82.1% availability, 68.7% functional girls’).

Sanitation equity supports NEP’s girl-child retention goals, with 98%+ functional in most states.

Power and Digital Infrastructure: Urban Edge Persists

Electricity coverage is 100% in Delhi, Goa, and Kerala, but drops to 71.8% in Arunachal Pradesh. Functional solar panels are low nationally (10.9%), with Gujarat (9.0%) and Haryana (23.8%) leading.

Digital access reveals stark divides:

  • Computers: UTs dominate – Lakshadweep (100%), Delhi (99.9%), Chandigarh/Puducherry/Kerala (99.5%). West Bengal (25.1%) and Bihar (25.2%) trail, risking NEP’s digital literacy push.
  • Internet: Andhra Pradesh (99.0%) and Delhi (100%) top the list; Jharkhand (58.0%) and Uttar Pradesh (45.9%) lag.

North-eastern states like Manipur (36.7% computers) and Meghalaya (19.7%) face connectivity hurdles, but initiatives like PM POSHAN could integrate solar and digital upgrades.

Table 2: Key Indicators for Select States (Source: UDISE+ 2024-25)

State/UT Electricity % Computers % Internet % Ramps %
India 93.7 64.7 63.5 75.5
Kerala 100.0 99.5 91.6 88.5
Delhi 100.0 99.9 100.0 98.1
Tamil Nadu 99.8 92.6 84.9 95.6
Bihar 97.5 25.2 84.8 32.7
West Bengal 98.0 25.1 18.6 67.3
Arunachal Pradesh 71.8 47.6 33.6 55.0

Inclusivity for CWSN: Ramps and Toilets Gaps

Ramps cover 98.1% in Delhi but only 21.6% in Ladakh. CWSN-specific toilets are at 35.6% nationally, with Chandigarh (90.0%) excelling and Bihar (19.0%) needing focus. NEP’s inclusive ethos demands ramp-and-handrail combos (72.0% national) in remote areas.

Medical check-ups reached 75.5% of schools last year, led by Goa (99.3%) and Tamil Nadu (95.3%).


Pathways to NEP Alignment: Bridging the Divides

The 2024-25 data shows 95%+ basics nationwide – a leap from pre-2020 levels – but digital and inclusivity lags threaten NEP’s 2030 goals. Southern models (e.g., Kerala’s 100% electricity and 88.5% ramps) offer blueprints, while north-eastern states could leverage central schemes like Samagra Shiksha for solar and broadband.

Uttar Pradesh, with 262,358 schools, covers 99.5% drinking water but only 45.9% internet – scaling urban successes rurally is key. Overall, functionality audits and green infrastructure (e.g., rainwater harvesting at 29.4%) will sustain gains.


Concluding Observations

The UDISE+ 2024-25 data on school infrastructure in India highlights significant progress toward the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of universal, inclusive, and tech-enabled education, but persistent gaps and regional disparities pose challenges to achieving these goals by 2030. The near-universal coverage of basic amenities – 99.3% for drinking water and over 94% for functional toilets – demonstrates a strong foundation for equitable access, particularly supporting girl-child retention through improved sanitation. However, functionality remains a concern, with states like Meghalaya (68.7% functional girls’ toilets) and Arunachal Pradesh (90.7% functional drinking water) needing targeted maintenance efforts to ensure consistent service delivery.

Digital infrastructure reveals a more troubling divide. While electricity access is robust at 93.7% nationally, with southern states and Union Territories (UTs) like Kerala and Delhi achieving 100%, digital tools lag significantly. Only 64.7% of schools have computers, with just 58% functional for pedagogical use, and internet connectivity stands at 63.5%. States like Bihar (25.2% computers) and West Bengal (18.6% internet) trail far behind leaders like Delhi (100% internet) and Andhra Pradesh (99% internet), risking NEP’s goal of digital literacy and technology-integrated learning. North-eastern states, such as Arunachal Pradesh (33.6% internet) and Manipur (36.7% computers), face compounded challenges due to geographical and resource constraints, underscoring the need for tailored interventions like solar-powered digital hubs or PM POSHAN-linked upgrades.

Inclusivity for children with special needs (CWSN) shows mixed progress. While 75.5% of schools have ramps (72% with handrails), only 35.6% offer CWSN-specific toilets, with stark disparities – Chandigarh at 90% versus Bihar at 19%. This gap undermines NEP’s inclusive education mandate, particularly in remote regions like Ladakh (21.6% ramps). The shift in enrolment trends, with private unaided schools growing to 36.8% of total enrolment by 2024-25 while government schools decline to 50.83%, further complicates equity, as private institutions may be less accessible to marginalized groups.

The data also raises concerns about operational inefficiencies, with 104,125 single-teacher schools and 7,993 schools reporting zero enrolment, pointing to poor resource allocation despite a robust teacher pool (over 10.1 million). Coupled with the declining enrolment (232.89 million in 2024-25 from 255.74 million in 2021-22) and a falling elementary GER (90.6%), these trends signal systemic barriers to universal education. Data reliability issues, potentially linked to the transition of UDISE management to the Ministry of Education, further complicate planning and monitoring.

Pathways Forward

To align with NEP 2020’s 2030 targets, India must:

  1. Enhance Functionality: Prioritize maintenance of existing facilities, especially in lagging states like Meghalaya and Bihar, to ensure functionality matches availability.
  2. Bridge the Digital Divide: Accelerate computer and internet deployment in north-eastern and northern states through public-private partnerships or solar-powered solutions, aligning with NEP’s digital push.
  3. Strengthen Inclusivity: Expand CWSN facilities, particularly toilets and ramp-handrail combos, in underserved regions like Ladakh and Bihar to meet inclusive education goals.
  4. Optimize Resources: Address teacher deployment inefficiencies and rationalize school operations to eliminate single-teacher and zero-enrolment schools.
  5. Improve Data Systems: Strengthen UDISEPlus through rigorous audits to ensure reliable data for NEP monitoring.
  6. Counter Enrolment Decline: Implement targeted campaigns and socio-economic support to reverse enrolment drops, particularly in government schools, to ensure equitable access.

Without urgent action, the combination of declining enrolment, digital and inclusivity gaps, and regional disparities could derail NEP 2020’s vision of universal school education by 2030. Strategic investments and policy focus on underserved regions and communities are critical to closing these gaps and ensuring equitable, quality education for all.

Visit our UDISEPlus analysis page. What’s your take on these trends? Share in the comments.

© 2025 Education For All in India. All rights reserved.

Education for All in India