PERFORMANCE GRADING INDEX (PGI)
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The Performance Grading Index (PGI) was first launched in 2017, and later restructured into PGI 2.0 in 2021 by the Ministry of Education. This tool evaluates the quality of school education across 73 parameters, which fall into two main categories: outcomes and governance & management. These are further organized into six specific domains:
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Learning outcomes and educational quality
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Accessibility of education
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Infrastructure and available facilities
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Equity in education
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Governance and administrative processes
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Teacher training and professional development
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The most recent edition of the PGI covers the academic years 2022–23 and 2023–24, and bases its findings on data sourced from the National Achievement Survey (2021), UDISE+, and the PM-POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal) scheme.
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States and Union Territories (UTs) are evaluated on a 1,000-point scale. Under PGI 2.0, scores are categorized into specific grade levels, with the topmost level termed ‘Daksh’, representing scores above 90% of the maximum range.
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However, none of the States or UTs managed to secure a score above 761. Chandigarh achieved the highest with 703 points, placing it in the ‘Prachesta-1’ grade band (701–760). This was an improvement from 687.8 in the previous year.
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Following Chandigarh, Punjab secured 631.1 points and Delhi got 623.7. Other high-performing regions like Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, Haryana, Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan fell within the 581–640 score range.
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At the bottom end, Meghalaya scored the lowest at 417.9, with Arunachal Pradesh (461.4), Mizoram (464.2), Nagaland (468.6), and Bihar (471.9) performing only slightly better.
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States including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand were placed in the Akanshi-1 category, with scores between 521 and 580.
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Highlighting regional disparities, the report noted a significant scoring gap, with the highest state scoring 719 and the lowest at 417 for the year 2023–24.
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The objective of the PGI is to guide States and UTs in identifying areas requiring focused interventions. Encouragingly, 25 out of 36 States/UTs showed an improvement in their performance compared to the previous year
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Mizoram, Goa, and Tripura have been recognized as achieving "full literacy" under the Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) initiative, also known as the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
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The ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, also referred to as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), is a centrally sponsored scheme that runs from 2022 to 2027. Its goal is to provide basic literacy and numeracy to five crore adults aged 15 and above who lack these foundational skills—primarily focusing on the ability to read, write, and perform simple arithmetic typically taught in early school years.
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Rooted in the principle of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty), the programme operates through volunteer participation and is structured around five key components:
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Foundational literacy and numeracy
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Essential life skills
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Basic education
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Vocational training
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Continuing education
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This initiative is managed by the Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy and also includes a component aimed at transforming 14,500 schools into model institutions to reflect and promote the ideals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
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The programme targets existing government-run schools—including elementary, secondary, and senior secondary levels—under the jurisdiction of central, state, and local authorities throughout the country
- The Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) is an initiative by the Ministry of Education to assess the performance of school education at the district level across India. It is a data-driven framework that evaluates districts based on key indicators to help identify strengths and gaps in their education systems
- The primary aim of PGI-D is to promote evidence-based policy-making and encourage local-level improvements by highlighting disparities in performance and recognizing high-achieving districts. It enables states and union territories to pinpoint areas requiring targeted interventions.
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PGI-D evaluates districts using a set of 83 performance indicators, grouped into six domains:
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Learning Outcomes & Quality
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Access to Education
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Infrastructure & Facilities
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Equity
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Governance Processes
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Teacher Education & Training
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These indicators are aligned with the goals of the Samagra Shiksha scheme and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
PGI 2.0 relies on data from:
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National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021
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Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)
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PM-POSHAN (mid-day meal programme)
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For Prelims: Performance Grading Index (PGI), National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
For Mains: GS II - Reports
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Previous Year Questions
1.Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. Directive Principles of State Policy 2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies 3. Fifth Schedule 4. Sixth Schedule 5. Seventh Schedule Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Answer (d) |
