55% of teachers are women, number of female students increased: Govt.

Enrollment of girls across the country moved forward to 48.4% (up from 48.3% last year). | Photo credit: Getty Images

The Union Ministry of Education on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) released a comprehensive report on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) for the academic year 2025-2026, highlighting the progressive shift towards gender equality in both teaching and learning.

Women now make up the majority of teachers in the country, accounting for 54.9% of all teachers. At the same time, the enrollment of girls across the country increased to 48.4% (up from 48.3% last year).

The non-completion rate at the preparatory level (grades 3 to 5) has fallen from 2.3% this year (2024–25) to 1.8%. Even more notable, early school leaving (grades 9 to 12) dropped from 8.2% to 7.0%. The dropout rate tracks the rate at which students leave school.

Intermediate retention (6th to 8th grade) climbed to 83.7% (from 82.8%), while intermediate retention increased to 51.9%, up from 47.2% last year. Student retention is an education metric that measures the percentage of students who continue their education at the same school or within a school system from one academic year to the next.

The Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) at the secondary level rose to 71.7% from last year’s 68.5%. GER is a statistical measure used in education to determine the percentage of students enrolled in a particular level of education (such as elementary, middle or high school), regardless of their age, relative to the total population of official school-age children at the same level.

Pupils’ progress in transition stages was stronger, the report said. In particular, the transition from middle school to high school jumped from 86.6% to 88.3%.

Also, the total number of teachers in India has increased by 8.3% compared to 2022-23. In addition, the ministry’s strategic rationalization of teacher placement has led to a 3% reduction in the number of one-teacher schools and a 29% decrease in zero-enrollment schools, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

One of the most notable improvements is the increase in the number of schools with computer access, rising from 64.7% in 2024–25 to 69.9% in 2025–26. Internet access in schools has seen a significant increase in the academic year 2025-2026. The percentage of schools with internet connectivity increased from 63.5% in 2024–25 to 67.4% in 2025–26.

The report states that 95% of schools have electricity, 98.5% have girls’ toilets and 97.2% have boys’ toilets – ensuring dignity and hygiene for all students. Handwashing facilities are now available in 96.9% of schools and access to safe drinking water has reached 99.5%.

Published – 7 Jul 2026 22:43 IST