School PGI climbs, but learning score stays frozen (Image/ANI) NEW DELHI: Chandigarh has become the first State/UT in the PGI 2.0 series to enter the top (Uttam) range, scoring 766 out of 1,000 in 2025-26. But a domain-wise reading of the union education ministry’s latest Performance Grading Index 2.0 report released Tuesday shows the recent rise was driven mainly by governance processes, infrastructure and teacher training, while the 240-point learning outcomes domain (the ultimate goal) remained unchanged because the index retained PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 scores for 2025-26.The Performance Grading Index 2.0 evaluates States and UTs by placing them in grade bands rather than assigning ranks. It is built on 70 indicators across two categories — outcomes and governance, and management — and six domains: learning outcomes and quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity, governance processes, and teacher education and training.The 2025-26 edition marks a clear shift. Chandigarh became the first State/ UT in the PGI 2.0 series to enter the Uttam range, scoring 766 out of 1,000 in 2025-26 and placing in Uttam-3, the lowest of the three Uttam bands. No State/UT reached Uttam-2, Uttam-1 or Utkarsh. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Punjab, Kerala and Delhi were in Prachesta-1, followed by five in Prachesta-2, 13 in Prachesta-3 and 13 in Akanshi-1. For the first time in the latest three-year comparison, none was in the lowest bands (Akanshi-2 or Akanshi-3). The PGI 2.0 band hierarchy, from highest to lowest, is Utkarsh, followed by Uttam (1-3), Prachesta (1-3), and Akanshi (1-3), one being the top.The climb is also visible at the bottom. Meghalaya, the lowest performer, moved from 448 in 2024-25 to 525.7 in 2025-26, exiting Akanshi-3. The gap between the highest and lowest scores narrowed to 240.3 points, or 31.4%, from 51% in 2017-18. The report notes that Meghalaya scored 53%, while all other States/ UTs were above 50%.A TOI analysis of the State-wise annexures shows 32 of 36 States/ UTs improved over 2024-25. The average gain was 26.4 points, led by governance processes, which contributed 13.6 points on average, followed by infrastructure and facilities at 6.3 points and teacher education and training at 4.7 points. Learning outcomes showed no movement.Governance was the main engine. Meghalaya gained 45.1 points in this domain, Lakshadweep 36.6, Bihar 34.9, Karnataka 33.2, Tamil Nadu 32.5, Goa 32.1 and Andhra Pradesh 32.0. Chandigarh’s own 26.9-point overall rise rested heavily on governance, where it moved from 83.2 to 106, becoming the only State/UT in Uttam-1 in the domain.The same domain explains the reversals. Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand were the only four to decline overall, with each losing ground mainly on governance. Puducherry improved overall but slipped to 39.2 in governance, the only Akanshi-1 score in that domain.Infrastructure was the second driver. Gujarat added 22.5 points, Lakshadweep 17.9, Meghalaya 15.7 and Delhi 15.2. Chandigarh, DNH&DD, Delhi and Lakshadweep reached Uttam-2 in infrastructure. In equity, Chandigarh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu were in Utkarsh; in teacher education and training, Kerala and Lakshadweep reached Utkarsh.The caveat is learning. Punjab remained the national leader and the only State/UT in Uttam-3 in learning outcomes, while Meghalaya stayed last in Akanshi-2. The report calls learning outcomes the “ultimate goal” of the index, but says PRS 2024-based scores were retained for 2025-26.At the district level, PGI-D shows wider but uneven improvement: 462 districts improved in outcomes and 50 moved up a grade, while 19 districts reached Uttam-2. But no district reached Utkarsh, underlining the same message as the State index: systems are moving, but the classroom test is still ahead.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThree Dead, Several Missing After Massive Landslide Near Kerala Tunnel Project SiteWhy Does Mumbai Flood Every Monsoon? The Real Reasons Explained’New Species Of Girgit’: Yogi Adityanath Slams SP, Congress Over Ram Temple Donation Theft CaseWho Was Jaswant Singh Khalra? The Story Behind Diljit Dosanjh’s SatlujThree Key Aides Of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Relieved In Sudden Administrative MovePM Modi Announces IIM Bangalore’s First Overseas Campus In Indonesia’s Malang RegionSupreme Court Rejects DMK Plea Against Vijay Remarks In Karur Stampede InvestigationPM Modi’s Indonesia Visit : BrahMos, Astra Missiles, Critical Minerals And Big OutcomesUnpublished ARAI Study Flags E20 Compatibility Issues In Older VehiclesMumbai-Pune Expressway: 4 Reasons The New Corridor Failed Its First Monsoon Test123Photostories5 rain-soaked destinations in India that are magical during the monsoon, and how to explore them safelyFrom SUVs to Hatchbacks: What your rental car choice says about your travel personalityHow to visit 3 countries in one trip: These unique places let travellers cross international borders on footFrom nostalgia to kitchen essentials: Foods NRIs often pack before leaving IndiaEver wondered why popcorn explodes? The science behind your favourite movie snackInside India’s oldest libraries that survived the Mughal era and the British rulePriyanka Chopra’s bold Dior look at Paris Haute Couture Week is an iconic blend of colour, couture, and confidence7 grasslands and plateaus in Maharashtra that become magical during monsoonPsychology explains reasons behind some faces that seem more attractive than othersAncient hair oil remedies to prevent grey hair: 5 nourishing mixtures worth trying123Hot PicksArgentina vs EgyptLionel Messi vs Mahamed SalahWayanad LandslideNovak DjokovicNavodaya RegistrationWhere to Watch FIFA World CupSiya GoyalQuote of the Day by Saddam HusseinMumbai-Pune expresswayTop TrendingIran-US WarMumbai FloodsBengal Rape CaseFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Class 10 ResultRam temple donationMumbai rainStock Market TodayMumbai Rain DeathKCET mock seat allotment
School PGI climbs, but learning score stays frozen (Image/ANI) NEW DELHI: Chandigarh has become the first State/UT in the PGI 2.0 series to enter the top (Uttam) range, scoring 766 out of 1,000 in 2025-26. But a domain-wise reading of the union education ministry’s latest Performance Grading Index 2.0 report released Tuesday shows the recent…
