NITI Aayog Report Highlights Learning Crisis and Out-of-School Children in India

Indian Express - Opinion · 25 May 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Education Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance

NITI Aayog's report reveals a dual crisis in Indian education: persistent out-of-school children and weak learning outcomes, threatening the goals of Viksit Bharat and SDG-4.

Key points

NITI Aayog reports 40% of children aged 6-17 are out of school, with higher rates in rural areas, among SCs, STs, Muslims, and girls, concentrated in UP, Bihar, MP, and Rajasthan.

Learning outcomes remain weak despite universal enrolment at primary levels, undermining India's education goals under Viksit Bharat and SDG-4.

[GS2-Social Justice] Disproportionate dropout rates among marginalized communities highlight systemic inequities in education access and quality.

Parental disillusionment with school education, poverty, migration, and gender barriers are key factors driving children out of school, as per NFHS-V data.

Secondary and higher secondary schools are inadequate, with distance and safety concerns for girls exacerbating dropout rates post-primary education.

Rigid administrative norms, non-portability of welfare entitlements, and lack of school autonomy hinder enrolment for migrant and homeless children.

RTE Act focuses on 6-14 age group, but dropout rates are higher among 15-17-year-olds, indicating a gap in policy coverage.

Technology-driven initiatives like PRABANDH and SHARDA portals aid tracking out-of-school children but face implementation challenges.

[GS3-Economy] Poor learning outcomes and high dropout rates could impact India's human capital and economic growth, hindering demographic dividend realization.

Way Forward: Implement multi-level inclusion strategies addressing household conditions, school-side factors, and governance challenges. Strengthen community-level interventions and emulate successful models like Nagaland's Communitisation Act.

Key terms

NITI Aayog

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) is a policy think tank established in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. It plays a pivotal role in formulating and evaluating India's developmental policies, including education, through evidence-based research and recommendations.

Viksit Bharat

A vision for India to become a developed nation by 2047, encompassing economic growth, social progress, and sustainable development. Education is a critical pillar, aiming for universal access, equity, and quality to meet global standards.

SDG-4

Sustainable Development Goal 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030. It emphasizes lifelong learning opportunities, aligning with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goals.

RTE Act

The Right to Education Act (2009) mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 under Article 21A of the Constitution. It sets norms for infrastructure, teacher-student ratios, and prohibits discrimination, though gaps remain in implementation and coverage for older adolescents.