The Ministry of Education (MoE) has expressed serious concern over a significant decline in student enrolment in government schools across 23 States and Union Territories for the academic year 2024–25. The data, reviewed during recent PM-POSHAN scheme meetings, points to a sharp fall in enrolment for Classes 1 to 8.
State-Wise Impact
Some of the most affected states include:
- Uttar Pradesh: 21.83 lakh fewer students
- Bihar: 6.14 lakh
- Rajasthan: 5.63 lakh
- West Bengal: 4.01 lakh
- Karnataka: 2 lakh
- Assam: 1.68 lakh
- Tamil Nadu: 1.65 lakh
- Delhi: 1.05 lakh
In Delhi, only 60% of Balvatika, 69% of primary, and 62% of upper-primary students availed mid-day meals in 2024–25—figures that fall below the national average.
Impact on PM-POSHAN Scheme
Formerly known as the midday meal scheme, PM-POSHAN provides hot cooked meals to children in government and aided schools from Classes 1 to 8. The initiative aims to improve nutrition, attendance, and learning outcomes, with costs shared between the Centre and state governments.
The drop in enrolment has impacted PM-POSHAN coverage. For example:
- West Bengal: Meal coverage fell by over 8 lakh
- Uttar Pradesh: Down by 5.41 lakh
- Rajasthan: Down by 3.27 lakh
In some cases, students were reportedly bringing food from home instead of eating school-provided meals—prompting the Ministry to ask states to review meal quality and delivery standards.
Possible Causes and Government Action
The Ministry has cited two main reasons behind the enrolment dip:
- Improved data accuracy: Transition from school-level aggregates to Aadhaar-based, student-level tracking may have eliminated duplicate or inflated records.
- Shift to private schools: Post-pandemic trends indicate that many families may now prefer private education, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
These concerns were first highlighted in the 2023–24 UDISE+ report and are now being reinforced by the latest PM-POSHAN data.
The Ministry has directed all affected states to submit detailed action plans by June 30, including:
- Investigating causes of student dropouts
- Proposing strategies to reverse the trend
- Reviewing and improving PM-POSHAN delivery
Looking Ahead
As the government continues to push for universal access to quality education, the drop in enrolment poses a challenge to both equity and learning outcomes. The MoE’s response reflects a broader effort to track educational participation more transparently and ensure accountability at all levels.
