Lok Sabha Question No. 1453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Data on Zero-Enrolment Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Smt. Bharti Pardhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1453

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Data on Zero-Enrolment Schools

1453. Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  total  number  of  school  teachers  in  the  country,  year-wise  and  State-wise particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) the data on the reduction of single-teacher schools and zero-enrolment schools including percentage declines and absolute numbers, State-wise;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  improvements  in  student  retention  rates  at  different  educational  stages,  such  as foundational,  preparatory,  middle,  secondary  including  the  transition  rates  between  levels,  as  per  the latest report;
- (d)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  in  terms  of  infrastructural  improvements,  such  as  digital infrastructure, sanitary facilities, drinking water  and inclusive infrastructure along with the manner in which these are distributed among rural and urban schools;
- (e)  whether  any  monitoring  and  corrective  mechanisms  have  been  implemented  for  overcoming  the problem of persistently low enrolment and if so, the details thereof along with the timelines fixed for implementing the same; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b): As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus), State/UT wise including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh total number of teachers for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25 are available at  https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques.

As per UDISE+, State/UT wise total number of single teacher schools and zero enrolment schools reduced in the year 2024-25 as compared to 2023-24 are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques

(c): As per UDISE+, State/UT wise retention rates and transition rates at different educational stages, such as foundational, preparatory, middle, secondary for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25 are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques .

(d) to (f): Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the schools are under administrative jurisdiction of concerned States & UTs. Under the Centrally Sponsored schemes like Samagra Shiksha, STARS and PM Shri, States and UTs are supported for strengthening of existing government  schools,  and  for  creation  and  augmentation  of  infrastructure  facilities  like  Additional Classrooms,  Toilets  for  Boys/Girls/CWSN,  Drinking  Water,  Electricity,  Boundary  Walls,  Library,

ICT and Digital Classrooms, based on the gaps determined from Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database and proposals received from respective State/UT. The requirement of  infrastructural  facilities  in  schools  is  worked  out  every  year  by  the  respective  State/Union Territory  on  incremental  basis  depending  on  their  need  and  priority  and  reflected  in  their  Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved/estimated by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme, physical and financial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources.

Also,  under  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.

******