School Hygiene in India Improves, UDISE Plus 2025 26 Reports Data

India's Schools Mark a Major Hygiene Leap After 96.9% of Schools Report Handwashing Facilities

Improving schools doesn't always mean incorporating technology. Simple approaches can sometimes be the most effective. India has made remarkable progress in its school infrastructure by adding more handwashing and drinking water facilities, with 2025-26 government data showing that 96.9% of India's schools have access to handwashing facilities and 99.5% have access to drinking water.

The Ministry of Education states that between 2013-14 and 2025-26, coverage for handwashing facilities increased from 43.1% to 96.9% and for drinking water access from 95.9% to 99.5%, respectively.

Handwashing Facilities Approach Universal Coverage

The greatest change has been in access to handwashing facilities. Between 2013-14 and 2025-26, facility coverage increased from under 50% of schools to 97% of schools. The latest data released by UDISE+ show that handwashing facilities increased from 94.1% in 2022-23 to 94.7% in 2023-24, and from 95.9% in 2024-25 to 96.9% in 2025-26.

Universal coverage is perhaps just around the corner. All of this progress in handwashing should be celebrated, but should not overshadow the reality that within India, not all schools sync up to the national average. UDISE+ is a self-reporting system and does not guarantee that every school has equal facilities at all times.

Improving School Infrastructure Beyond Water and Hygiene

Infrastructure at schools has been improved beyond drinking water and hygiene in recent years. In 2025-26:

• 95.0% of schools had electricity.
• 98.5% had girls' toilets.
• 97.2% had boys' toilets.
• 90.5% had libraries.
• 58.2% had ramps with handrails.
• 29.9% reported having rainwater harvesting facilities.

Some infrastructure showed significant improvements, while some basic infrastructure has reached almost universal status. This shows significant progress with basic infrastructure, while others still require significant progress.

Why Basic Infrastructure Matters for Education

The provision of drinking water and hygiene facilities could easily be included as background elements of school education. This, however, is incorrect. The Ministry of Education has noted that the provision of basic school infrastructure has the potential to positively impact teaching and learning, and improve student health and attendance.

Students are able to appreciate this positively. Water and sanitation facilities, as well as the provision of electricity and hygiene infrastructure, create the basic conditions for learning in a school. Particularly for girls, access to school toilets and safe sanitation can determine whether they stay in school. The government has also noted improvements in school infrastructure and its positive impact on female participation.

The Next Obstacle: Maintenance

It is great to see the effort put towards achieving uptake of new school facilities. However, reaching a certain level does not mean we have won. The real challenge is ensuring that school facilities are functioning, clean, accessible and maintained. Having a handwashing station without water or maintenance is pointless for the students.

This is why it is necessary to look beyond the installation of school facilities and pay attention to maintaining them and creating awareness among the students. The government has a type of framework known as Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating (SHVR). This framework assesses schools on various factors and aspects of the school’s infrastructure and facilities, including the operation and maintenance of the school’s facilities, water, sanitation and hygiene, and behaviour and the school’s faculty.

A Different Kind of Educational Progress

Infrastructure statistics may be dry, but the achievement of handwashing station coverage of 96.9% in just 12 years is a prime example of the impact basic school facilities may have. This is because the handwashing station coverage may have reached the majority of schools in the nation.

The coverage for drinking water has reached almost as high. The next phase will be about reaching the last-mile schools and ensuring that every facility we have noted is truly operational.

Final Thoughts

Leaps in school basic infrastructure in India in the last few years include the addition of handwashing facilities in schools over the period from 2013-14 - 43.1% to 2025-26 - 96.9% and a water coverage rate in schools of 99.5%.

India's basic infrastructure to serve better learning environments is now half-built and ready for further work. The next step is to achieve functional, clean, and well-maintained facilities from the already achieved almost universal coverage. Infrastructure fulfills its goal of service to students, only when they can depend upon it day after day.