The performance gap between India's top and bottom-performing states has narrowed from 51% in 2017-18 to 42% in the 2023-24 cycle, as reported in the latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0. This suggests that many states are making progress and closing the gap with better-performing regions.
Chandigarh Only One to Reach Prachesta-1 Band
Despite the improvements, none of the 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) achieved the highest performance grades of Daksh, Utkarsh, Atti-Uttam, or Uttam. Chandigarh is the only entity to reach the "Prachesta-1" band with a score of 703 out of 1,000, placing it ahead of other states.
Top Performers and Their Scores
Among the leading performers, Punjab scored 631.2, followed by Delhi at 623.7, Gujarat at 614.4, and Odisha at 595.6. These states have secured grades in the Prachesta-2 and Prachesta-3 bands. On the other hand, states like Meghalaya (417.9), Arunachal Pradesh (461.4), Mizoram (464.3), Nagaland (468.6), and Bihar (472.0) found themselves in the lowest performance tiers, Akanshi-2 or Akanshi-3.
Evaluation Criteria of PGI 2.0
The PGI 2.0 assesses school education systems across 73 indicators in six main domains: learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, equity, governance processes, and teacher education & training. States and UTs are assigned a score out of 1,000, which determines their performance band, ranging from Daksh (top) to Akanshi-3 (lowest).
Room for Improvement in Many States
While there have been improvements, 25 states and UTs still remain in the Akanshi category (scores below 580), indicating the need for further improvements in these areas. The number of states in the Akanshi category has reduced from 28 in the previous year, suggesting some positive progress.
Best Performers Over Two-Year Period
Himachal Pradesh saw the most significant improvement over two years, gaining 41 points to reach 573.8. Other states like Telangana (22.6-point increase) and Odisha (11.1-point increase) also showed progress. Delhi, with an impressive one-year rise of 44.4 points, recorded improvements in school infrastructure and teacher training, though its score was not eligible for two-year comparisons.
States Facing Declines in Performance
Some states experienced a decline in their scores. Chhattisgarh, for example, saw a steep fall of 38.6 points due to weaknesses in governance and equity indicators. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu also reported slight declines.
State-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses
- Kerala: Achieved the highest grade, Daksh, in the teacher education and training domain, reflecting strong investment in teacher quality.
- Odisha: Excelled in promoting equity, addressing gender, caste, and regional disparities.
- Bihar: Despite improvements in access and teacher training, Bihar struggled with poor infrastructure, which impacted its overall score.
- Uttar Pradesh: Improved in equity and teacher training but still faces challenges in governance.
Final thoughts
Despite progress, the report emphasizes that significant work remains for most states and UTs to reach the 1,000-point benchmark. The PGI 2.0 scores will continue to be an important tool for monitoring and reforming India’s education systems to meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
Source
Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs by Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department: Click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per the Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department, Ministry of Education, and Government of India.
