How Many Schools Are There in India?
India has one of the world's largest school education systems. According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 data — the most comprehensive government school database — India has approximately 14.5 lakh (1.45 million) schools across all levels, boards, and management types.
Key School Statistics India 2026
| Metric | Data (2024-25 / Latest) |
|---|---|
| Total schools (all types) | ~14.5 lakh (1.45 million) |
| Total student enrolment | ~25 crore (250 million) |
| Total teachers | ~97 lakh (9.7 million) |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) | 26:1 (national average) |
| Government schools | ~11.2 lakh (77%) |
| Private schools | ~3.3 lakh (23%) |
| CBSE-affiliated schools | ~28,000+ |
| CISCE-affiliated schools | ~2,800+ |
| IB schools | ~200+ |
| Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) — Primary | ~99% |
| GER — Secondary (Class 9–10) | ~79% |
| GER — Senior Secondary (Class 11–12) | ~57% |
| Overall literacy rate | ~77.7% (Census 2011 adjusted to ~80% in 2024) |
School Distribution by Level
| School Level | Number of Schools | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Primary only (Class 1–5) | ~8.5 lakh | 59% |
| Upper Primary / Middle (Class 6–8) | ~3.4 lakh | 23% |
| Secondary (Class 9–10) | ~1.6 lakh | 11% |
| Higher Secondary (Class 11–12) | ~1.0 lakh | 7% |
State-wise School Statistics — Top 10 States
| State | Schools (approx.) | Literacy Rate | GER Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 2.5 lakh | 67.7% | 71% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1.3 lakh | 69.3% | 72% |
| Rajasthan | 1.1 lakh | 66.1% | 69% |
| Maharashtra | 1.1 lakh | 82.9% | 83% |
| West Bengal | 82,000 | 76.3% | 76% |
| Andhra Pradesh | 63,000 | 67.4% | 78% |
| Karnataka | 59,000 | 75.6% | 79% |
| Tamil Nadu | 53,000 | 80.1% | 89% |
| Gujarat | 52,000 | 78.0% | 76% |
| Kerala | 13,000 | 96.2% | 97% |
India's Education Budget 2026
The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹1.25 lakh crore to the Ministry of Education — approximately 3.2% of GDP. Key allocations include:
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: ₹37,500 crore (school education support)
- PM SHRI Schools: ₹6,000 crore (upgrade 14,500 PM SHRI schools to model status)
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan: ₹8,800 crore
- Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti: ₹4,200 crore
- Digital education / PM eVIDYA: ₹2,500 crore
NEP 2020 — Impact on School Statistics
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is reshaping India's school statistics through:
- 5+3+3+4 structure replacing the old 10+2 — reclassifying primary, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission: Target — every child reading and doing basic maths by Class 3 by 2026-27
- Vocational education from Class 6: 10-day internship programmes, skill integration
- Multilingual education: Mother tongue as medium of instruction up to Class 5
- No Board exams before Class 10: Moving towards competency-based assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are there in India in 2026?
India has approximately 14.5 lakh (1.45 million) schools as of 2024-25, with ~11.2 lakh government schools and ~3.3 lakh private schools. The number has grown from 12 lakh in 2015-16 due to the opening of new schools under Samagra Shiksha.
What is India's literacy rate in 2026?
India's literacy rate was 77.7% as per the Census 2011 data. Estimates for 2024-25 place the rate at approximately 80–82%, with Kerala being the highest (96.2%) and Bihar the lowest among major states (~69.8%).
How many students are enrolled in Indian schools?
Approximately 25 crore (250 million) students are enrolled in Indian schools across Classes 1–12, making it one of the world's largest school education systems by enrolment.
How many CBSE schools are there in India?
As of 2024-25, CBSE has approximately 28,000+ affiliated schools across India and abroad, including 1,248 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 661 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and thousands of private affiliated schools.
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