The total enrolment of students in India has dropped by over a crore in the academic year 2023-24 compared to previous years, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education (MoE). The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report reveals that 24.8 crore students were enrolled in 2023-24, a significant decline from the enrolment figures of around 26 crore in the preceding years.

Education officials highlighted that the observed changes reflect the unique and refined methodology of the UDISE+ system, which was revitalised in 2022-23. Unlike previous years, the updated system captures data at the school level with inbuilt validation checks, followed by verification at the block, district, and state levels. This ensures greater reliability and addresses discrepancies such as duplicate or ghost entries.

In 2018-19, student enrollment stood at 26.02 crore, increasing by 1.6% to 26.45 crore in 2019-20, representing an addition of over 42 lakh students. However, there was a slight dip in 2020-21. A modest recovery followed in 2021-22, with enrolment increasing by 0.76%. Despite this, enrolment dropped to 25.18 crore in 2022-23 and further declined to 24.8 crore in 2023-24, marking a 6% decrease (nearly 1.22 crore students) from 2018-19 levels.

The UDISE+ system introduced significant changes to enhance the accuracy and uniqueness of student data. Beginning in 2022-23, Aadhaar details were collected voluntarily to maintain individual identification, and by 2023-24, over 19.7 crore students provided their Aadhaar numbers. Officials stated that these improvements aim to eliminate redundant entries and establish a more precise database for educational schemes.

However, the data from the latest UDISE+ reports is not strictly comparable with previous reports on indicators such as Gross Enrolment Ratio, Net Enrolment Ratio, and dropout rates. This transition reflects the government's efforts to streamline educational data collection and ensure targeted benefits for students. While the decline in enrolment numbers raises concerns, it also underscores the need for further analysis to address underlying factors and maintain a robust educational ecosystem.