The declining number of government schools across India has become a matter of concern. While the number of government schools is falling, private schools continue to grow in several parts of the country. The latest UDISE Plus (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) data has raised several questions about the changing landscape of school education in India.
According to data presented in the Lok Sabha, the number of government primary and upper-primary schools across the country declined by nearly 9,900 in 2025-26 compared with 2024-25.
From 8.89 Lakh to 8.80 Lakh Schools
According to UDISE Plus data, India had more than 8.89 lakh government primary and upper-primary schools in 2024-25. By 2025-26, the number had fallen to around 8.80 lakh.
This means that nearly 9,900 government schools disappeared from the records within just one year. The Union Ministry of Education released the UDISE Plus 2025-26 report in July 2026.
Meghalaya, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Witness Major Declines
The decline was not uniform across all states. Meghalaya recorded the highest reduction in the number of government primary and upper-primary schools. It was followed by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where a significant decline was also reported.
The reduction in schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, has triggered concerns about whether students will continue to have easy access to schools close to their homes.
Earlier UDISE Plus data from Telangana had also raised concerns about infrastructure in government primary schools. The previous report indicated that nearly 16% of government and local-body primary schools in the state were operating with only one classroom.
Some States Report an Increase
Interestingly, the number of government schools did not decline in every state. The latest data indicates that some states recorded a modest increase in the number of government schools.
Chhattisgarh, in particular, reportedly witnessed an increase. This indicates that changes in the number of schools vary considerably from one state to another and may be influenced by state-level policies and local conditions.
Is Student Shortage the Main Reason?
The key question now is why such a large number of government schools have declined.
One possibility is a fall in student enrolment, which may have resulted in school closures or mergers. However, the Union Ministry of Education has not provided a clear explanation establishing that all of the reduction was due to a shortage of students.
The government has also not clearly specified how many schools were closed specifically because of low enrolment and how many were merged, reorganised or otherwise restructured.
Therefore, it would not be appropriate at this stage to attribute the entire decline of nearly 9,900 schools solely to a shortage of students.
Why Does the Decline in Government Schools Matter?
Government schools play a crucial role in providing education, particularly to children from rural areas and economically disadvantaged families.
When schools are closed or merged, students may have to travel longer distances to attend another school. This can be particularly challenging for younger children and may affect attendance, accessibility and continuation of education.
At the same time, school mergers and restructuring can potentially help governments use teachers, infrastructure and other resources more efficiently. However, such decisions also need to consider travel distance, availability of teachers, infrastructure and the quality of education.
Need for Greater Clarity
The decline of nearly 9,900 government primary and upper-primary schools in a single year is certainly a significant development.
The larger reductions reported in Meghalaya, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh deserve closer examination. However, there is currently insufficient official evidence to conclude that all these schools were closed because of a lack of students.
More detailed information is needed on the number of schools that were closed, merged, upgraded, downgraded or reorganised, along with the reasons behind these changes.
The latest UDISE Plus figures therefore highlight an important issue for policymakers: ensuring that efforts to rationalise the school system do not come at the cost of easy access to education, particularly for children in rural and economically weaker communities.
