Secondary Education in India: Where Do We Stand? An Analysis of UDISE+ 2024-25 Data
Introduction
India’s constitutional mandate under Article 21A ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14, reinforced by the Right to Education Act, 2009. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 ambitiously targets 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at all school levels by 2030, placing particular focus on secondary (Classes 9-10) and higher secondary (Classes 11-12) stages to foster skilled youth for economic growth. These stages are pivotal yet vulnerable to dropout risks, infrastructural gaps, and equity challenges.
This status article examines the current state of secondary and higher secondary education using the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 report, released by the Ministry of Education on August 28, 2025. Covering 14.71 lakh schools, 24.69 crore students, and over 1 crore teachers, UDISE+ offers insights into enrolment, infrastructure, and efficiency indicators. The analysis prioritizes all-India aggregates, with selective state-wide references for context, eschewing progress trends to spotlight prevailing conditions. Consistent with the data-centric approach of Education for All in India, it aims to guide evidence-based policymaking.
Literature Review
UDISE+ analyses from 2021-22 to 2023-24 indicate elementary GER stabilization near 90%, but secondary and higher secondary hover at 60-70% and 50%, respectively, due to economic barriers and limited facilities. Prof. Arun C. Mehta’s works underscore post-elementary attrition linked to rural-urban divides and marginalized group underrepresentation. NEP 2020 critiques highlight data silos pre-2022-23, impeding comparable metrics, while recent studies stress vocational and digital integration for retention. Mehta’s 2024-25 review cautions that without equity-focused interventions, NEP’s universal secondary goal is unattainable, mirroring South Asian patterns of gender and caste disparities.
Analysis
The UDISE+ 2024-25 dataset reveals 24.69 crore total students, with secondary enrolment at approximately 3.72 crore (15.1% of total) and higher secondary at 2.76 crore (11.2%), reflecting stagnation amid an 20.7-lakh overall (primary to higher secondary) decline from 2023-24. Indicators are grouped into Access, Participation, Retention, and Quality, with all-India figures and brief state notes.
Access
Access is gauged by school availability, teacher deployment, and infrastructure. Total schools number 1.47 million, but secondary-only institutions comprise 26,829 (1.82%), and higher secondary-only 15,992 (1.09%), with the vast majority (~97%) being composite schools that often strain resources due to multi-level demands. Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) stands at 15:1 for secondary and 23:1 for higher secondary, below NEP’s 30:1 but uneven – e.g., Jharkhand’s higher secondary PTR at 47:1 signals overload. Infrastructure coverage includes electricity in 92% of schools but functional computers in only 57%, widening digital divides in states like Jharkhand (58% internet access).
| Indicator | Secondary (All India) | Higher Secondary (All India) | Example State Variation (Bihar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Schools | 26,829 (1.82%) | 15,992 (1.09%) | Secondary: 8,500 (low density) |
| PTR | 15:1 | 23:1 | Secondary: 26:1 |
| Internet Access (%) | 63.5 (All Schools) | 5,37,486 Schools (All) without internet facility | 58% (All Schools) |
Source: UDISE+ 2024-25 Report, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Participation
Participation metrics show GER at 78.7% for secondary and 58.4% for higher secondary, far from NEP targets, with 3.72 crore secondary and 2.76 crore higher secondary enrolments. Social category proportions reveal SC at 19.2% (below 20.8% population share), ST at 10.1% (vs. 8.6%), and Muslim minorities at 14.5% (vs. 14.2%), with GERs of 70.8% (SC secondary), 66.9% (ST), indicating marginal gains but persistent gaps – e.g., Uttar Pradesh’s ST secondary GER at 55%.
| Social Category | Secondary Enrolment Proportion (%) | Higher Secondary Enrolment Proportion (%) | GER Secondary (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 19.2* | 18.5* | 70.8 |
| ST | 10.1* | 9.8( | 66.9 |
| Muslim Minority | 14.2 | 12.0 | 65.2 |
| All Categories | 100.0 | 100.0 | 78.7 |
Source: UDISE+ 2024-25 Report, Ministry of Education, Government of India. * estimated
Various enrolment ratios at secondary and higher secondary levels, including Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), Net Enrolment Ratio (NER), and Adjusted NER, reveal nuanced patterns in age-appropriate participation. At the secondary level (Classes 9-10), GER stands at 78.7% overall (77.3% for boys, 80.2% for girls), NER at 47.5%, and Adjusted NER at 59.8%. For higher secondary (Classes 11-12), GER is 58.4% overall (56.2% for boys, 60.9% for girls), with NER at 35.8%. These figures underscore higher female participation but highlight significant attrition, as NER lags considerably behind GER, indicating over-age and under-age enrolments.
| Ratio | Secondary Overall (%) | Secondary Boys (%) | Secondary Girls (%) | Higher Secondary Overall (%) | Higher Secondary Boys (%) | Higher Secondary Girls (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) | 78.7 | 77.3 | 80.2 | 58.4 | 56.2 | 60.9 |
| Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) | 47.5 | 46.6 | 48.6 | 35.8 | 34.2 | 37.6 |
| Adjusted NER | 59.8 | 57.8 | 62.0 | – | – | – |
Source: Analysis of UDISE+ 2024-25 Data by Prof. Arun C. Mehta, Education for All in India.
Participation of Females in Enrolment and Teachers
Female participation reflects equity strides, with girls comprising 48.4% of total enrolment (up from 48.1% in 2023-24) and Gender Parity Index (GPI) exceeding 1.0 across levels (UDISEPlus 2024-25), signalling higher female retention. In secondary, female enrolment is 1.81 crore (48.59%), and higher secondary 1.39 crore (50.13%), bolstered by schemes like Samagra Shiksha. Female teachers number 52.01 lakh (54.2% of total, up from 53.3%), with secondary female PTR at 20:1.
| Level | Female Enrolment (Crore) | % of Total Enrolment | Female Teachers | GPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary | 1.81 | 48.59 | 520,918 | 0.92 |
| Higher Secondary | 1.39 | 50.13 | 317,024 | 0.86 |
Source: UDISE+ 2024-25 Report, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Retention
Retention averages 62.9% at secondary and 47.2% at higher secondary, with dropout at 11.5% (down from 14.2%) for secondary – better than West Bengal 20.2% but alarming in Meghalaya (17.4%). Transition from secondary to higher secondary is 75.1%, hampered by fee burdens and skill mismatches.
Quality
Quality indicators include 85% trained teachers at secondary (up 2%) and 78% at higher secondary, but only 63.5% schools have internet, limiting NEP’s tech vision. Small schools (enrolment <50) constitute 12% of secondary institutions, facing viability issues – e.g., 15% in Madhya Pradesh lack labs.
Concluding Observations
The UDISE+ 2024-25 data unveils a secondary and higher secondary landscape of partial gains amid entrenched vulnerabilities. Access remains uneven, with PTR improvements (21:1 secondary) overshadowed by infrastructural deficits like low digital penetration (63.5%), exacerbating urban-rural chasms – evident in West Bengal’s 18.6% internet coverage. Participation GERs (78.7% secondary, 58.4% higher secondary) fall short of universality, with SC/ST/Muslim underrepresentation (e.g., ST GER 81.3%, secondary) reflecting socio-economic exclusions, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh. Female participation at 48.59% and GPI >1 highlight equity progress, yet rural mobility constraints persist. Retention leaks (11.5% secondary dropout) and low 47.2% higher secondary rates signal post-elementary crises, driven by economic pressures and inadequate vocational linkages. Quality hinges on teacher training (85%) but falters in small schools (12% of secondary), where resource scarcity hampers outcomes. Overall, structural inequities – caste, gender, regional – undermine NEP 2030 aspirations, demanding targeted, data-led reforms. In summary, given the current state of development, particularly at the secondary level, it can be concluded that India is likely to miss the NEP 2020 target of achieving 100% GER at the secondary level by 2030.
Action to Achieve Universal School Education by 2030
If universal secondary education is not achieved, it would leave millions of youth without critical skills, impacting India’s economic growth and social equity. Based on current UDISE+ 2024-25 trends, with secondary GER at 78.7% and higher secondary at 58.4%, and an annual improvement of about 1-2%, achieving 100% by 2030 seems unlikely. At this pace, projections suggest universal secondary education might be reached around 2040-2045, assuming consistent policy support and funding. To bridge this gap, immediate action is needed: integrate Samagra Shiksha provisions into annual planning exercises, allocating 25% of its budget for secondary infrastructure and equity incentives, ensuring real-time UDISE+ data informs allocations. Develop a dedicated planning module for small schools (<50 enrolment), emphasizing mergers, shared resources, and community hubs to enhance viability. Enhance teacher training to 95% coverage, expand digital access to 85% of schools, and target dropout-prone states like Meghalaya with tailored scholarships and vocational skilling via public-private ties, aiming for a 10% GER uplift annually. Monitor progress via UDISE+ dashboards, ensuring marginalized inclusion.
Suggested Readings
- Ministry of Education, Government of India. (2025). Report on Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25. https://dashboard.udiseplus.gov.in/
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, August 28). Ministry of Education releases report on UDISE+ 2024-25. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2161543
- Mehta, A. C. (2025). Analysis of UDISE+ 2024-25 Data. Education for All in India. https://educationforallinindia.com/udiseplus-2024-25-data/
- India Today. (2025, August 29). UDISE+ 2024-25: Better teacher-student ratios. https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/udise-2024-25-better-teacher-student-ratios-low-govt-enrolment-and-dropouts-2778582-2025-08-29
- Careers360. (2025, August 28). UDISE+ 2024: School enrolment drops. https://news.careers360.com/udise-2024-school-enrolment-drops-11-lakh-secondary-retention-at-47-teachers-1-crore-dropouts-gre-ptr-report-
