New Delhi. : A new government survey has confirmed that government schools remain the backbone of India’s education system, enrolling the majority of children nationwide despite sharp spending differences between public and private education.
The Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education 2025, covering 52,085 households and 57,742 students, reported that government schools account for 55.9 percent of total enrolment nationally. Their reach is especially pronounced in rural areas, where nearly two-thirds (66.0 percent) of students study in government institutions, compared with 30.1 percent in urban areas.
While enrolment patterns underline the continued reliance on public education, the survey also highlighted financial disparities. Households spent an average of Rs 2,863 per child in government schools compared to Rs 25,002 in private schools—almost nine times higher. Only 26.7 percent of students in government schools reported paying course fees, against 95.7 percent in private schools.
Course fees remained the largest single cost driver across all types of schools, averaging Rs 7,111 per student, with urban families spending significantly more (Rs 15,143) than rural ones (Rs 3,979). Textbooks and stationery followed, averaging Rs 2,002 per student.
Private coaching emerged as a major parallel expense, with 27 percent of students availing coaching, rising to 30.7 percent in urban households. Urban families spent Rs 3,988 per student on coaching—over twice the Rs 1,793 rural families spent. At the higher secondary level, this urban–rural coaching gap widened further.
The survey revealed that 95 percent of school education costs are directly borne by families, with government scholarships contributing as the primary source for just 1.2 percent of students.
The Ministry has cautioned against using state-level data for population estimates due to sample size limitations. It also noted that classifications differ from earlier NSS surveys, limiting comparability.
The findings reaffirm that government schools remain India’s primary education providers, especially for rural children, while families increasingly face heavier financial burdens in private schooling and coaching markets.
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