Number of govt elementary schools down 10,000 in a year

Data showed the number of elementary-level govt schools declined from 8,89,806 in 2024-25 to 8,79,940 in 2025-26NEW DELHI: The number of govt elementary schools across the country fell by nearly 10,000 in a year, with Meghalaya, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recording the steepest declines, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.UDISE+ data showed that the number of elementary-level govt schools declined from 8,89,806 in 2024-25 to 8,79,940 in 2025-26 - a reduction of 9,866 schools, or about 1.1%.The govt data was provided in response to a question from DMK MP T R Baalu on whether a large number of elementary schools had been closed because of insufficient student strength and the steps being taken to prevent dropouts. However, the education ministry did not specify how many of