Education ranking by state is an important topic for students, parents, teachers, researchers, and policymakers who want to understand the quality of education across India. Comparing states can help identify differences in learning outcomes, school infrastructure, teacher availability, student access, and educational opportunities.
The Government of India’s Ministry of Education evaluates school education through the Performance Grading Index (PGI). The index measures state and Union Territory performance across areas such as learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, equity, governance, and teacher education and training.
The latest report, released on July 7, 2026, covers the 2025–26 Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States and Union Territories. Importantly, the index assigns performance grades rather than creating a simple first-to-last ranking. Multiple states can receive the same grade.
This guide explains how education rankings work in India, which indicators matter, how to compare state performance, and where to find the latest official information.
What Is Education Ranking by State?
Education ranking by state refers to comparing the education systems of different Indian states and Union Territories using measurable indicators.
However, there is no single ranking that captures every aspect of education. A state may perform well in school infrastructure but face challenges in learning outcomes. Another may have strong examination results but need improvements in access, teacher availability, or educational equality.
For this reason, it is important to understand which ranking or measurement is being used.
Main Ways to Compare Education Across States
- School education performance: Measures learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, equity, and governance.
- Student learning assessments: Compare student performance in subjects such as languages, mathematics, science, and social science.
- Literacy rates: Measure the proportion of people who can read and write according to the relevant statistical definition.
- Higher education: Compares universities, colleges, research, enrolment, and other indicators.
- Educational access: Examines enrolment, attendance, retention, and opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
These measurements serve different purposes. A state leading one indicator may not lead all the others.
Latest Government Education Ranking: Performance Grading Index 2025–26
The Ministry of Education released its PGI 2.0 report for states and Union Territories for 2025–26 in July 2026. It evaluates education performance on a scale of 1,000 points, using 70 indicators grouped into two broad categories: outcomes and governance and management.
The six assessment domains are:
- Learning Outcomes and Quality
- Access
- Infrastructure and Facilities
- Equity
- Governance Processes
- Teacher Education and Training
The index is designed to help governments identify strengths and areas that need improvement. It should not be interpreted as a universal ranking of every school, college, or university within each state.
Which State or Union Territory Performs Best?
In the 2025–26 PGI reporting, Chandigarh reached the top “Uttam” performance category with 766 points, according to reporting on the Ministry of Education’s latest index. Chandigarh is a Union Territory, not a state.
This distinction matters when interpreting headlines about the “best state.” The highest-performing state and the highest-performing state or Union Territory are not necessarily the same.
For the complete current grade information, consult the official State Performance Grading Index portal.
How the Government Measures School Education Quality
The PGI uses several indicators because education quality involves more than examination results.
1. Learning Outcomes and Quality
Learning outcomes measure what students know and can do at different stages of schooling. These indicators can include performance in language, mathematics, science, and other assessed subjects.
Strong learning outcomes indicate that students are developing important academic competencies. However, assessment results must be interpreted alongside student backgrounds, teaching resources, and access to learning support.
2. Access to Education
Access indicators help assess whether children can attend school and progress through the education system.
Relevant factors include school availability, enrolment, transition between educational stages, and opportunities for students in remote or underserved communities.
A strong education system should provide students with reasonable access to quality schooling regardless of their location or circumstances.
3. Infrastructure and Facilities
School facilities influence students’ daily learning experiences. Infrastructure indicators can cover classrooms, drinking water, toilets, electricity, libraries, and digital learning resources.
Good facilities create a more supportive environment, although infrastructure alone does not guarantee strong academic performance.
4. Equity and Inclusion
Equity measures whether students from different social and economic backgrounds have fair opportunities to learn.
This includes attention to disadvantaged communities, students with disabilities, gender-related differences, and other barriers to educational participation.
5. Governance and Management
Governance indicators examine how education systems are managed, monitored, and supported. Effective administration can help ensure that teachers, resources, and student services are available where they are needed.
6. Teacher Education and Training
Teachers play a central role in student learning. This domain considers aspects of teacher preparation, professional development, and support for effective teaching.
These domains together provide a more complete picture than a ranking based only on literacy or examination pass percentages. <Cite refs={[“turn101308search0″,”turn101308search17”]}/>
State-Wise Education Performance: An Example From the 2024–25 PGI Data
The table below provides selected official scores from the 2024–25 PGI 2.0 report. These figures are useful for understanding how the index compares education systems, but they are not the latest 2025–26 scores and should not be presented as the current ranking.
| State or Union Territory | PGI 2024–25 score |
|---|---|
| Chandigarh | 739.1 |
| Punjab | 709.1 |
| Delhi | 675.5 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 659.2 |
| Odisha | 655.2 |
| Maharashtra | 649.8 |
| Goa | 613.2 |
| Assam | 593.6 |
| Haryana | 587.1 |
| Rajasthan | 578.6 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 578.1 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 569.1 |
Source: Ministry of Education, PGI 2.0 for 2024–25. Scores are out of 1,000. <Cite refs={[“turn101308search16”]}/>
These scores illustrate differences in overall school education performance for that reporting year. They do not prove that every school in a higher-scoring region performs better than every school in a lower-scoring region.
For a current comparison, use the official portal and select the 2025–26 report.
Best States for Education in India: What Should You Compare?
People searching for the best state for education often want a straightforward list. In practice, the most suitable state depends on the type of education and the criteria being considered.
For School Education
Compare school learning outcomes, teacher availability, school facilities, student support, and access to education. The PGI is a useful starting point because it considers several of these factors together.
For Higher Education
School education grades do not directly measure the quality of universities or colleges. Students choosing a university should also examine accreditation, course quality, faculty, research opportunities, placement outcomes, affordability, and campus facilities.
For Competitive Examinations
A state with a strong school system may still have differences in coaching availability, examination participation, and student preparation. Exam results should therefore be assessed separately from the overall PGI.
For Affordable Education
Students and parents should compare government institutions, tuition fees, scholarships, hostel costs, transport, and financial aid. The cheapest option is not automatically the best, so affordability should be considered alongside course quality and student support.
Why Education Rankings Differ From State to State
Education performance can be influenced by several interconnected factors.
Economic and Social Conditions
Household income, parental education, access to technology, and local employment conditions can affect students’ opportunities to learn.
Rural and Urban Differences
Urban areas may have more schools, colleges, coaching facilities, and digital resources, while remote areas may face difficulties with transportation, staffing, or access to specialist teaching.
These differences can also exist within the same state, making district-level information valuable.
Teacher Availability
Shortages of teachers, uneven subject expertise, and limited professional development can affect classroom learning. Effective teacher recruitment and support are therefore important parts of education improvement.
Infrastructure and Digital Access
Electricity, internet connectivity, libraries, laboratories, and suitable classrooms can support learning. However, digital resources are most effective when teachers and students know how to use them well.
Government Policies and Implementation
Education policies can influence school funding, teacher training, learning assessments, nutrition programs, and support for disadvantaged students. Results depend not only on policy design but also on effective implementation and monitoring.
How to Find the Latest Education Ranking by State
Students, parents, researchers, and writers can use official resources to check the latest education data.
Step 1: Open the Official State PGI Portal
Visit the Performance Grading Index for States and Union Territories.
Step 2: Select the Reporting Year
Choose the latest available report, currently 2025–26, to avoid confusing historical scores with current grades.
Step 3: Compare the Relevant Indicators
Look beyond the overall grade. Check learning outcomes, infrastructure, access, equity, governance, and teacher education.
Step 4: Check the District-Level Data
A state’s overall score can conceal substantial differences between districts. The District Performance Grading Index portal provides district-level education performance information. <Cite refs={[“turn101308search0″,”turn101308search3”]}/>
Step 5: Confirm the Source and Year
When publishing a report or article, identify the exact index, reporting year, and whether the figures refer to states only or include Union Territories.
This prevents misleading comparisons between different datasets.
Education Ranking by State vs. Literacy Rate
Education performance and literacy are related but different measurements.
| Feature | Education performance index | Literacy rate |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Assesses several aspects of the education system | Measures literacy within a population |
| Typical indicators | Learning outcomes, access, facilities, equity, governance | Ability to read and write under the relevant statistical definition |
| Scope | Can focus on school system performance | Covers the population group measured by the survey or census |
| Use | Helps identify education system strengths and gaps | Helps understand basic literacy levels |
| Limitation | A composite score can hide individual weaknesses | Does not directly measure teaching quality or overall learning achievement |
A state may have a high literacy rate but still need improvements in school learning outcomes or infrastructure. Likewise, an education performance score does not tell the whole story about adult literacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which state has the highest education ranking in India?
The answer depends on the index and reporting year. In the 2025–26 PGI reporting, Chandigarh, a Union Territory, reached the top Uttam category with 766 points. Consult the official state PGI portal for the complete current grade information. <Cite refs={[“turn101308news51″,”turn101308search0”]}/>
2. What is the Performance Grading Index?
The Performance Grading Index is a Ministry of Education framework for evaluating school education performance across states and Union Territories. It considers learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, equity, governance, and teacher education.
3. Is education ranking the same as literacy ranking?
No. Education rankings can measure several aspects of the school system, while literacy rankings focus on literacy levels in a specified population. Both are useful, but they answer different questions.
4. Where can I check the official state-wise education grades?
Visit the official State PGI portal. For district-level results, visit the District PGI portal.
5. Can I use education rankings to choose a state for college?
Use them as background information, not as the only deciding factor. The PGI focuses on school education, so college applicants should separately compare universities, course accreditation, faculty, fees, facilities, career outcomes, and available financial aid.
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