Parliament Question: National learning outcomes post-COVID

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-356 ANSWERED ON – 25/03/2026 National learning outcomes post-COVID 356. Shri G.C. Chandrashekhar: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) findings of national learning outcome assessments conducted between 2021 and 2024 (including NAS/ASER-linked indicators); (b) subject-wise learning deficits identified at elementary and secondary levels; and (c) funds allocated and utilised for remedial programmes during last three years? ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN) (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House. ******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 356 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 ASKED BY HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SHRI G.C. CHANDRASHEKHAR REGARDING “NATIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES POST-COVID”. (a) & (b) The Ministry of Education undertakes large-scale assessments to measure learning outcomes in schools across the country from time to time. The National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 was conducted after schools reopened post-COVID to evaluate learning levels of students across Classes III, V, VIII and X, in Language, Mathematics, Environmental Studies (EVS), Science, Social Science and Modern Indian Language (MIL). NAS 2021 covered over 34 lakh students from 1.18 lakh schools, across 720 districts in India. National, State and District level reports from NAS 2021 are available at https://parakh.ncert.gov.in/nas- dashboard. More recently, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 (previously National Achievement Survey) was conducted by the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education to measure the baseline performance under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in development of competencies among students at the end of the Foundational, Preparatory and Middle Stages (Grades 3, 6 and 9 respectively) of schooling. The learning competencies assessed through the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan are aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (2022) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (2023) developed by the NCERT. Nationwide over 21.15 lakh students and 2.70 lakh teachers and school leaders from more than 74,000 schools, including Government, Government aided and Private Schools, in 781 districts participated in the assessment. National, State and District level reports for PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 are available at https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en, a dedicated dashboard designed to disseminate the findings of the assessment. The reports contain subject wise achievement of learning competencies in Language and Mathematics at Foundational stage, Language, Mathematics and The World Around Us at Preparatory stage and Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science at Middle Stage. At the national level, the findings of PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 highlight a significant improvement going beyond incremental, in foundational literacy and numeracy skills as compared to National Achievement Survey 2021, thereby reflecting the positive impact of the NIPUN Bharat Mission launched under NEP 2020. Percent correct scores in Grade 3, which is the only common grade assessed across NAS 2021 and PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, is given in the table below: NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT PARAKH RASHTRIYA Subject SURVEY (NAS) 2021 SARVEKSHAN 2024 Language 62 64 Maths 57 60 Percent correct scores at the national level in Grade 6 and 9 from the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 is given below: Subject Grade 6 Grade 9 Language 57 54Mathematics 46 37 The World Around Us 49 -- Science -- 40 Social Science -- 40 At the preparatory stage, findings from the Sarvekshan reveal highest scope for improvement in learning competencies associated with understanding and representing fractions in Mathematics, and explaining the link between natural environment and cultural practices and predicting patterns in nature and society in The World Around Us. At the middle stage, highest scope for improvement exists in learning competencies associated with understanding and applying percentages in Mathematics, working of electricity in Science, and collection/interpretation of information (primary and secondary) to understand the historical, cultural, geographical and socio-political aspects of human life in Social Science. Through the dashboard and dissemination workshops, the Central Government assists and handholds States and UTs in identifying critical learning gaps at various stages and suggests possible interventions which could be taken up with due customisation at the local level to plug such gaps. (c) Education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution with the majority of schools falling under the administrative control of respective State and UT Governments. The Central Government assists States and UTs through Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, wherein financial assistance is provided with a focus on delivering quality education and improving learning outcomes through different interventions. These inter-alia include remedial teaching and Learning Enrichment Programmes (LEP) for academically weaker students and CwSN, support for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) initiatives under NIPUN Bharat Mission and composite school grant to every school for providing a conducive learning environment. To ensure interventions under Samagra Shiksha remain adequate in scale, design and coverage and responsive to local context, Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) are prepared by respective States and UTs based on their requirements and priorities. These plans are then appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme. The funds approved and utilized during the last three years under Samagra Shiksha for such Learning Enhancement/Enrichment Programme is given below: FUNDS APPROVED AND UTILIZED DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS UNDER SAMAGRA SHIKSHA FOR LEARNING ENHANCEMENT/ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME (Rs in Crore) Sl. No. Year Allocation Utilization 1 2023-24 738.92 137.85 2 2024-25 680.39 369.513 2025-26* 499.74 302.28 Total 1919.05 809.64 *As on 20th March, 2026 (Source: PRABANDH Portal)