What is a pupil-teacher ratio?

A pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) is the number of students per teacher in a school or education system. A PTR of 30:1 means each teacher is responsible for 30 students on average. Lower ratios allow more individual attention; higher ratios indicate greater teacher workload and less scope for personalised support.

What is India's latest pupil-teacher ratio?

India's national pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) across all school stages sits within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1 as of 2024-25. The secondary stage PTR is 21:1, the middle stage is 17:1, the preparatory stage is 13:1, and the foundational stage is 10:1. This marks the first time all four stages have met the benchmark simultaneously.

Which Indian state has the highest pupil-teacher ratio?

Jharkhand has the highest higher secondary pupil-teacher ratio in India, at 47:1 as of 2024-25. This means a teacher at that level is, on average, responsible for 47 students. Maharashtra (37:1), Odisha (37:1), and Uttar Pradesh (35:1) also significantly exceed the national higher secondary PTR of 23:1.

Which Indian states have the lowest pupil-teacher ratio?

At the higher secondary stage (Classes 11–12), Sikkim (7:1), Ladakh (8:1), and Himachal Pradesh (9:1) record the lowest PTRs as of 2024-25. At the primary level, Ladakh (5:1) and Sikkim (6:1) also sit at the bottom of the national range.

What pupil-teacher ratio does NEP 2020 recommend for schools?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends a maximum PTR (pupil-teacher ratio) of 30:1 across all school stages. This benchmark applies from the foundational stage (pre-primary to Class 2) through secondary (Classes 9-12). As of 2024-25, India's national PTR meets this target at every stage, though several states remain above it at the higher secondary level.

What is a single-teacher school in India?

A single-teacher school is a government school where one teacher is responsible for all students, all grades, and all subjects. As of 2024-25, India has 1,04,125 such schools. Andhra Pradesh (12,912 schools), Uttar Pradesh (9,508), and Jharkhand (9,172) have the highest counts. In these schools, the concept of a state or national PTR average does not apply.

What does UDISE+ measure in school education?

The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is India's official school education database, maintained by the Ministry of Education. It tracks data across approximately 14.71 lakh schools nationwide, covering enrolment, teacher counts, infrastructure, and learning outcomes.

At which school stage does India’s pupil-teacher ratio vary most between states?

The higher secondary stage (Classes 11–12) shows the widest variation. The national higher secondary PTR is 23:1, but state figures range from 7:1 in Sikkim to 47:1 in Jharkhand. Primary and upper primary PTRs are comparatively consistent across states.