Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 Findings.State-Wise Progress & Infrastructure Improvements

The Ministry of Education has released the latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 report for 2023–24, providing a comprehensive assessment of school education quality across Indian states and union territories. The PGI 2.0 framework evaluates performance using 73 indicators grouped into six domains: Learning Outcomes, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, Governance Processes, and Teacher Education & Training.

Top Movers & Highlights

• Bihar & Telangana: Registered the most significant improvement in the Access domain—indicating better enrolment, retention, and reach of schooling.
• Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana: Made substantial strides in Infrastructure & Facilities, enhancing school buildings, sanitation, digital classrooms, etc.
• Despite progress, no state or UT secured the highest “Daksh” grade—revealing that even top performers have room to improve across key metrics.

Delhi’s Leap

• Moved from Akanshi-1 to Prachesta-3, recording a 44-point increase in its PGI score for 2023–24—a testament to focused policy measures and interventions.

PGI 2.0: Framework Overview

• Comprises 73 indicators across six domains:
  1. Learning Outcomes
  2. Access
  3. Infrastructure & Facilities
  4. Equity
  5. Governance Processes
  6. Teacher Education & Training
• States/UTs are graded on a 1,000-point scale, with grades ranging from Daksh (941–1000) to Akanshi-3 (≤460).

Key Takeaways

• Positive Movement: Improved Access in underperforming states like Bihar and Telangana indicates expansion in enrollment and retention.
• Infrastructure Gains: Gains in Delhi, J&K, and Telangana suggest better school facilities—a critical enabler for learning.
• Yet, no state has yet reached the pinnacle (“Daksh” or “Utkarsh”), highlighting persistent gaps in learning outcomes, governance, and teacher quality.

UPSC Relevance

Past UPSC Question Linkages

• Prelims:
  Q: “PGI 2.0 focuses on access, equity, learning outcomes, infrastructure, governance, and teacher training—True or False?”
  ✅ Answer: “True.”
• Mains (GS 2/3):
  Q: “Assess the impact of NEP 2020 on school infrastructure and access. In your view, is the current system equipped to meet the policy’s goals?”