India’s school report card is back in the news. The Union Ministry of Education released the Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States and UTs, along with the district-level PGI-D report for 2025-26, on 7 July 2026 through an official Ministry of Education release.
PGI 2.0 does not rank schools one by one. It grades State, UT, and district school education systems on data points linked to learning, access, teachers, infrastructure, safety, governance, and digital learning. That is why this report is important for parents, teachers, policymakers, and anyone tracking India’s education quality story.
What Is PGI 2.0 In School Education?
PGI 2.0, or Performance Grading Index 2.0, is a national grading framework used by the Department of School Education and Literacy. It checks how States and Union Territories perform in school education and places them in score bands instead of giving a simple first, second, or third rank.
The State and UT index carries 1,000 points across 70 indicators. These indicators are grouped under two larger categories, Outcomes and Governance & Management. Inside them sit 6 domains: Learning Outcomes and Quality, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, Governance Processes, and Teacher Education & Training.
The data comes from official systems such as UDISE+, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, PM POSHAN, PRABANDH, and Vidyanjali. The idea is simple. A State should not look good only because enrolment is high. It also has to show better learning, trained teachers, working facilities, fair access, and stronger administration.
The Ministry also shared the update through its official X post on PGI 2.0.
How States And UTs Are Graded Under PGI 2.0
The latest PGI 2.0 report shows how far States and UTs are from the top performance bands. Chandigarh topped the 2025-26 cycle with 766 out of 1,000 and became the only State/UT in the Uttam-3 category. No State or UT reached Utkarsh, Uttam-1, or Uttam-2.
Delhi, Kerala, Punjab, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were placed in Prachesta-1, the next band after Chandigarh. Maharashtra, Odisha, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Lakshadweep entered Prachesta-2. Several larger States, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, were placed in Prachesta-3, according to current education coverage based on the report.
Here is the one thing readers should notice: PGI 2.0 is not a beauty contest. A State can perform well in access but lag in learning outcomes. Another may have better governance but weaker teacher training. That makes the index more useful than a plain rank list.
Key points from the 2025-26 PGI 2.0 update:
- Chandigarh led nationally with 766 points and entered Uttam-3.
- No State or UT reached the top three grades.
- Delhi, Kerala, Punjab, and DNH&DD stood in Prachesta-1.
- The performance gap fell from 51% in 2017-18 to 31.4% in 2025-26.
- Learning outcomes remain a tough area for most States.
How Districts Are Ranked Through PGI-D
PGI-D takes the same idea closer to the ground. Instead of looking only at States and UTs, it checks district-level school education performance. This helps identify where a State is doing well and where district officers need sharper action.
The district PGI portal says the index gives insights into the status of school education in districts and the key levers behind performance. The 2025-26 PGI-D framework carries 600 points across 70 indicators.
Districts are checked across 6 categories: Outcomes, Effective Classroom Transaction, Infrastructure Facilities & Student Entitlements, School Safety & Child Protection, Digital Learning and Governance Process. These are further broken into 11 domains, including Learning Outcomes and Quality, Access Outcomes, Teacher Availability, Learning Management, Digital Learning, Attendance Monitoring and School Leadership Development.
In the 2025-26 district report, no district reached the highest Utkarsh grade. One district reached Uttam-1, while 19 districts reached Uttam-2 by scoring more than 70% of the total score. These top district performers included 4 from Delhi, 7 from Punjab, 3 from Kerala, 2 from Maharashtra, along with Chandigarh, Diu and Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.
Why PGI 2.0 Is Being Discussed Now
PGI 2.0 is trending because it gives a sharper view of India’s school system at a time when education numbers are under heavy public watch. The same official release noted that India has more than 14.67 lakh schools, 1.03 crore teachers and nearly 24.72 crore students. That scale is huge, and even a small improvement can affect millions of children.
The latest results also show a mixed picture. Access and infrastructure have improved in many places. Teacher training has gained attention. Digital learning is now a measurable part of district performance. But learning outcomes are still not moving fast enough. That is the part parents care about most: are children actually reading better, solving better and staying ready for higher classes?
The index is also tied to the larger goals of National Education Policy 2020. NEP wants better foundational learning, inclusive education, teacher support and stronger school governance. PGI 2.0 gives governments a way to see whether those promises are moving on the ground.
What This Means For Parents, Teachers And States
For parents, PGI 2.0 is a signal. It shows whether a State is building a stronger school system or only making claims. For teachers, it brings attention to training, classroom support and student learning. For governments, it points to the exact weak spots.
A low grade does not mean every school in that State is poor. A high grade also does not mean every classroom is perfect. It means the overall system is stronger or weaker based on official indicators.
The best use of PGI 2.0 is not celebration or blame. It should help States study better performers, fix district gaps and spend money where schools need it most. If the next report shows stronger learning outcomes, then PGI 2.0 will mean more than another government scorecard.
FAQs
What Is PGI 2.0?
PGI 2.0 is India’s school education grading index for States, UTs and system performance.
Who Releases PGI 2.0 In India?
The Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education releases PGI 2.0.
Which State Or UT Topped PGI 2.0 2025-26?
Chandigarh topped PGI 2.0 2025-26 with 766 points and entered the Uttam-3 band.
What Is PGI-D In Education?
PGI-D grades districts on school education using 600 points and 70 official performance indicators.
Does PGI 2.0 Rank Individual Schools?
No, PGI 2.0 grades State, UT and district systems, not individual schools or students.
