Annual dropout rate in schools India AY 2018-2022 by level

The average annual dropout rate for secondary schools in India was over 12 percent in 2022, a significant decline from the academic year 2019, the highest among school levels. Primary schools had the lowest dropout rates.

Early childhood education

    India’s infant mortality rates in India have decreased over the years with the help of government initiatives. The government launched “Anganwadis” in 1975, to provide adequate medical care and to combat hunger and malnutrition in children. These government-funded childcare centers enroll children as young as six months old. Across India, there are more than a million Anganwadis that deliver early education, health, and nutrition services. These centers also provide pre-primary education for children below five years.

Free education and midday meals

    With low levels of reading literacy among eighth graders, faring well in the upcoming at the later stage, in the secondary school classes could be challenging. The government-run public schools provide free and compulsory education as a fundamental right to children between the ages of six and fourteen. To improve the nutritional status and attendance of school children, the Indian government implemented the "Midday Meal Scheme" that offers free lunch to all students on working days. While simplistic in its approach, one meal taken care of during the day helps parents in the lower income groups, specifically those that depend on daily/hourly wages.