**Executive Summary**
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) is launching a nationwide drive to achieve a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2030, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020. This initiative utilizes the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to identify and re-enroll approximately 2 crore out-of-school children and 50 lakh students who fail board examinations annually. Key actions include the rollout of the technology-enabled "NIOS Mitra" outreach program and the expansion of study centers to every block across India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Target Objectives and Statistics**
* **GER Goal:** Achieve 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio from pre-school to secondary level by 2030.
* **Current Gaps:** Address the 2 crore children aged 14–18 years currently not attending school and the 11% of children in Grades 3–8 who remain out-of-school.
* **Retention:** Provide a practical alternative for the 50 lakh students who fail board examinations each year.
**The NIOS Framework and Flexibility**
* **Inclusive Access:** NIOS offers flexible admissions, vocational and skill-based courses, and inclusive provisions for Divyang learners.
* **Examination System:** Provides multiple opportunities to clear exams through an On-Demand Examination System.
* **Certification Status:** NIOS certifications are recognized as equivalent to other national and state boards.
**Outreach and Identification Initiatives**
* **NIOS Mitra Programme:** A technology-enabled outreach initiative utilizing trained facilitators to identify, counsel, and provide academic guidance to out-of-school children.
* **Data-Driven Identification:** NIOS will utilize district-level survey data from State and UT governments to contact dropout children.
* **Focus Groups:** Prioritization of marginalized, tribal, migrant, minority, and economically disadvantaged groups.
**Infrastructure and Scaling**
* **Block-Level Expansion:** Aim to establish at least one NIOS Study and Examination Centre in every block.
* **Institutional Collaboration:** Designating PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and Government Senior Secondary Schools as NIOS centers.
* **Local Integration:** Encouraging schools in every Panchayat and Municipality to serve as NIOS Study and Examination Centres.
**Impact Analysis**
**Out-of-school and Dropout Children**
**Impact**
Children who have dropped out due to economic, social, or geographical constraints gain access to a flexible, recognized, and credible education system.
**Action Required**
Engage with NIOS Mitra facilitators for counseling and enroll in NIOS programs to complete their education.
**State and Union Territory Governments**
**Impact**
Increased responsibility for inter-departmental collaboration and data sharing to meet national education targets.
**Action Required**
Provide district-level survey data to NIOS and facilitate the use of government schools as examination and study centers.
**National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)**
**Impact**
Required to scale operations significantly, moving from 10,800 centers to a presence in every block, panchayat, and municipality.
**Action Required**
Engage with States/UTs to strengthen the framework, deploy the NIOS Mitra program, and establish new study centers.
**Government Educational Institutions (KVs, NVs, PM SHRI schools)**
**Impact**
These institutions will take on a dual role by serving as host sites for NIOS study and examination activities.
**Action Required**
Prepare infrastructure to function as designated NIOS Study and Examination Centres.
Key Entities Referenced
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS): An autonomous body and the world's largest open school board, providing the flexible framework to achieve universal school enrolment.
Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL): The department within the Ministry of Education responsible for launching the nationwide drive to enrol out-of-school and dropout children.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The primary policy document that mandates achieving a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) from pre-school to secondary level by 2030.
NIOS Mitra: A technology-enabled outreach initiative designed to mobilise communities and facilitate the identification and enrolment of out-of-school children.
PM SHRI schools: A category of schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, designated to serve as study and examination centres for open schooling.
Ministry of Education
DoSEL strengthening Open Schooling framework
through NIOS to achieve 100% gross enrolment
ratio by 2030
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 4:10PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and strengthening the foundations
of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as articulated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Department of
School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, is set to launch a
nationwide drive to identify and enrol out-of-school and dropout children.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets a target of achieving 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
from pre-school to secondary level by 2030. However, according to the annual report of the Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, nearly 2 crore children aged 14-18 years are not attending school,
while around 11% of children in Grades 3-8 remain out-of-school and over 50 lakh students fail board
examinations each year.
To achieve the goal of 100% GER, it is essential to bring these children back into the education system at
the earliest and to prevent further dropouts. Open schooling offers a practical alternative for children
unable to attend regular schools due to economic, social, or geographical constraints.
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), an autonomous body under the Ministry and the largest
open school board in the world, provides inclusive and flexible access to quality school education and skill
development through open and distance learning, promoting universalisation, equity and social justice. As
the world's largest open schooling board, NIOS offers flexible admissions, multiple opportunities to clear
examinations, an On-Demand Examination System, vocational and skill-based courses aligned with
employability, inclusive provisions for Divyang learners, and certification that is recognised on par with
other national and state boards.
The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises tracking of students, as well as their learning levels, in
order to ensure that they are enrolled in and attending school and have suitable opportunities to catch up
and re-enter school in case they have fallen behind or dropped out. In view of this, the Ministry, with the
support of the State and UTs, intends to initiate a drive to contact out-of-school or dropout children.
Officials from NIOS will be engaging with States and Union Territories to strengthen institutional
collaboration and advance the cause of dropout children, a reliable and credible open schooling framework
across the country.
The data drawn from district-level surveys of respective state / UT governments will assist NIOS in
identifying and contacting out-of-school or dropout children for upcoming enrolment drives. To ensure
last-mile connectivity, NIOS will roll out the "NIOS Mitra" programme, a structured and technology-
enabled outreach initiative designed to mobilise communities and facilitate enrolment. Trained facilitators
will identify and counsel out-of-school children, support their enrolment, and provide academic guidancewith special focus on marginalised, tribal, migrant, minority and economically disadvantaged groups. The
programme will operate within a transparent and digitally monitored system to ensure accountability and
measurable outcomes.
The Ministry is also focussing on strengthening access, quality and standardization in school education,
including improving the effectiveness of open schooling systems. With more than 10,800 Study and
Examination Centres across States and Union Territories, NIOS provides a scalable platform capable of
mainstreaming large numbers of learners who require flexibility due to social, economic or personal
circumstances. To expand these efforts and to strengthen credibility and transparency, the Ministry,
through NIOS, will work closely with States and Union Territories to establish at least one NIOS Study
and Examination Centre in every block.
Key interventions planned include:
Designating PM SHRI schools, including Kendriya Vidylayalas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, and
Government Senior Secondary Schools as NIOS Study and Examination Centres;
Encouraging State Open School Boards to use Government schools and recognized examination
centres for NIOS exams;
Encouraging Government Senior Secondary Schools in every Panchayat and Municipality to
become NIOS Study and Examination Centres;
These efforts aim to provide inclusive, flexible and quality education to marginalized groups and advance
the goal of universal school participation.
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AK
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