**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1436 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 9, 2026, regarding the establishment of new government schools. The response details the number of government schools, the number of teachers, and the Gross Access Ratio (GAR) across various levels of education. It also outlines steps taken by the government to improve universal access to education.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Administration of Schools**:
* The majority of schools are under the administrative control of States/UTs, making the opening, closing, and rationalization of schools the responsibility of respective State Governments and UT Administrations.
* **Data Availability**:
* State/UT wise data on the number of government schools at Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary, and Higher Secondary levels from 2013-14 to 2024-25 is available on the UDISE+ portal.
* State/UT wise data on the number of single-teacher schools and students studying in those schools for 2023-24 to 2024-25 is also available on the UDISE+ portal.
* **Teacher Statistics**:
* The total number of teachers in government schools for the year 2023-24 was 5,037,671, and for 2024-25, it was 5,149,771.
* Breakdown by level for 2023-24: Primary (1,765,068), Upper Primary (1,554,433), Secondary (532,314), Higher Secondary (1,185,856).
* Breakdown by level for 2024-25: Primary (1,763,157), Upper Primary (1,585,109), Secondary (531,129), Higher Secondary (1,270,376).
* **Gross Access Ratio (GAR)**:
* GAR data for 2018-19 and 2024-25 indicates improvements in universal access to school education.
* GAR is defined as the total villages/habitations having a school within a specified norm in a year out of the total villages/habitations in that year.
* **Government Initiatives**:
* The Central Government assists States and UTs through schemes like Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN Yojna for providing hot cooked meals.
* Financial assistance is provided to States and UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, to reduce dropout rates and increase enrolment.
* Activities supported include opening/strengthening schools, upgrading infrastructure, and providing various facilities and allowances.
**Impact Analysis**
**States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the administration, opening, closing, and rationalization of schools within their jurisdiction.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available data on UDISE+ to inform decisions related to school management. Implement and manage initiatives supported by central government schemes to improve enrolment and reduce dropout rates.
**Students**
* **Impact:** Affected by the government's efforts to improve universal access to education and reduce dropout rates. Benefit from schemes that provide meals, infrastructure improvements, and various facilities.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required.
**Teachers**
* **Impact:** Teaching at Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary, and Higher Secondary levels.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required.
Key Entities Referenced
UDISE+: Unified District Information System for Education Plus, used to collect data on schools.
Samagra Shiksha: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme to assist States and UTs in the education sector.
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Yojna: A scheme providing hot cooked meals from Balvatika to class 8.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV): Residential schools for girls from disadvantaged communities, up to class 12.
Ministry of Education: The central ministry responsible for education in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1436
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Establishment of New Government Schools as per Academic Years
1436. Shri Anand Bhadauria:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Government schools in the country at the end of academic years from 2013-14 to
2024-25 and as on 31.12.2025, State, year and category-wise i.e. Primary, Middle, High and Higher
Secondary schools;
(b) the number of new Government schools set up/started from the academic years from 2013-14 to
2025-26, State, year and category-wise i.e. Primary, Middle, High and Higher Secondary schools;
(c) whether huge shortage of teachers at primary, secondary and higher secondary levels in Government
schools has compelled the Government to close or merge Government schools, if so, the details thereof
and if not, the reasons for large scale closure and merger of Government schools in the country;
(d) the number of single teacher schools in the country present at Primary, Middle, High and Higher
Secondary level and the number of students studying in those schools at each level, State/UT-wise; and
(e) the details of steps taken by the Government to stop this trend of closure and merger of school in the
country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): Education being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, an overwhelming
majority of the schools in the country comes under the administrative control of States/UTs. The
opening, closing and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State
Government and UT Administration. As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for
Education Plus), State/UT wise number of Government schools at Primary, Upper Primary,
Secondary and Higher Secondary from the year 2013-14 to 2024-25 is available at
https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques.
As per UDISE+, number of teachers at primary, upper primary, secondary and higher
secondary levels in Government schools for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25.
Number of Teachers – all types of management
Year
Total Primary Upper Primary Secondary Higher Secondary
2023-24 5037671 1765068 1554433 532314 1185856
2024-25 5149771 1763157 1585109 531129 1270376
As per UDISE+, State/UT wise number of single teacher schools at Primary, Upper
Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary level and the number of students studying in those schools
for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25 is available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques.As per the data available on UDISE+, advancements have been made in improving universal
access across all levels of school education. This is evidenced by Gross Access Ratio (GAR) for
2018-19 and 2024-25:
Year Primary Upper Primary Secondary Higher Secondary
2018-19 97.15 96.49 88.24 65.05
2024-25 97.83 96.57 95.35 94.97
GAR: Gross access ratio (GAR) is total villages/habitations having school within specified norm in a year out of total
villages/habitations in that year.
Central Government assist States and UTs through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Samagra Shiksha and hot cooked meal provided from Balvatika to class 8 under Pradhan Mantri Poshan
Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Yojna. Financial assistance/grant is also provided to the States and UTs
including Uttar Pradesh for various activities to reduce dropout and increase enrolment in Government
schools, which include opening/strengthening of new schools up to Senior Secondary level,
strengthening school infrastructure, setting up and up gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika
Vidyalayas (KGBV) upto class 12, setting up of residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, hostels under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan
(PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), transport allowance,
undertaking enrolment drives, seasonal hostels/residential camps, provision of vocational education and
ICT facilities in schools, providing free text books and free uniform, transport/escort facility, etc,
financial assistance/grant is also provided for aids and appliances for children with special needs.
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