MoSPI Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education 2025:
School dropout rates in India have halved in just two years, according to the MoSPI Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education 2025.
- It is Conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) during April–June 2025 as part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS).
- Dropout decline: Secondary level (8.2% in 2024-25 vs. 13.8% in 2022-23), Middle level (3.5% vs. 8.1%), Preparatory stage (2.3% vs. 8.7%).
- Structural turnaround: Early interventions like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-day meals, scholarships, and NEP 2020 flexibility credited for success.
- Affordability challenge: Household expenditure rising — Govt. school (Rs 2,639 rural; Rs 4,128 urban) vs. private unaided schools (Rs 19,554 rural; Rs 31,782 urban).
- Secondary fragility: Adolescents still face pressures of income needs, early work, and limited higher-secondary schools.
- Long-term outlook: India could move towards universal school completion in a decade if access and affordability are addressed.
