Education index shows growing north-south chasm

Posted On: 06/12/2013 Updated On:

The annual Education Development Index (EDI) for 2012-13 is out and like previous years the narrative has not changed. There is a civilizational difference between the south and the north as the Hindi heartland states continue to languish at the bottom of the heap.

The EDI is also an indicator that while the southern states are improving in leaps and bounds after the enactment of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and others despite their best efforts are proving to be no match. States were judged on four parameters: access, infrastructure, teachers and outcomes.

EDI, done by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration on the basis of mammoth District Information of School Education (DISE) data, has ranked Lakshadweep on top after evaluating its primary and upper primary education performance. Puducherry is ranked second, followed by Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu's high ranking also exposes the flawed ranking system that the HRD ministry had adopted in ranking states on the basis of their performance in the midday meal scheme. The southern state was poorly ranked above 20 and touted as a laggard. The state government had protested. One of the parameter used in DISE ranking takes into account infrastructure as an important component like the availability of kitchen sheds.

Among the northern states, Punjab has recovered a lot of ground occupying the sixth position, a remarkable recovery from its 13th rank in 2011-12.

Among the southern states the biggest decline has been of Kerala, once among the best performers. It is now languishing at 14th position. In 2011-12 it was ranked seventh. What led to Kerala's overall poor ranking is the loss in primary education. In primary education, the state's rank went down to 20th from sixth in 2011-12.

While Delhi has also slipped from sixth to 11th in overall ranking, Maharashtra has shown consistency retaining its eighth position. As for the perpetual laggards, Bihar has recovered a bit. It is now ranked 30th from 33rd in 2011-12. UP's downward slide continues, from 32nd to 34th. Rajasthan is in the same league: 25th from 23rd position. West Bengal is yet to witness CM Mamata Banerjee's much promised winds of change in school education. The state has slipped to 31st rank from 29th in the previous EDI ranking. Madhya Pradesh, likely to give another term to Shivraj Singh Chauhan , is also among the worst performers, occupying 28th slot.

More News

NEET PG 2026 Scorecard and Answer Keys Released Today

NEET PG 2026 Scorecard and Answer Key Officially Released Today: Check Direct Links, Category-Wise Cut-Offs & Counselling Updates New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has officially released the much-awaited ...

Posted On: 01/10/2026

ITBP Head Constable Recruitment 2026

ITBP Head Constable Recruitment 2026 The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has issued a recruitment notification for the positions of Head Constable (Education and Stress Counsellor) and Head Constable (Motor Mechanic). This recruitment initiative i...

Posted On: 01/10/2026

NMIMS School of Business Management MBA 2027 Application Closes on 10 October

Mumbai, 30 September 2026: Applications for the MBA 2027 intake at NMIMS School of Business Management (SBM) are set to close on 10 October 2026, giving aspiring management professionals a final opportunity to apply. The flagship MBA Core programme ...

Posted On: 30/09/2026

NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 3 Seat Allotment Results Declared

NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 3 Seat Allotment Results Declared, Essential Reporting Guidelines & Timelines Released The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially released the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 seat allotment results. A...

Posted On: 30/09/2026

IIT Roorkee Opens PhD Admissions For Spring 2026-27 Semester

IIT Roorkee Opens PhD Admissions For Spring 2026-27 Semester The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has commenced admissions for its PhD programmes for the Spring Semester of 2026-27, inviting candidates interested in pursuing advanced aca...

Posted On: 30/09/2026

AIMA Announces MAT December Session 2026: Registration Now Live, Check Dates, Exam Pattern, and Details

AIMA Announces MAT December Session 2026: Registration Now Live, Check Dates, Exam Pattern, and Details New Delhi: The All India Management Association (AIMA) has officially commenced the registration process for the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) D...

Posted On: 29/09/2026

IIT Jodhpur Invites Applications For Post-Doctoral Fellowship

IIT Jodhpur Invites Applications For Post-Doctoral Fellowship IIT Jodhpur has announced an invitation for applications for Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs) aimed at research and teaching roles. The eligibility criteria include Indian nationals, foreign ...

Posted On: 29/09/2026

CBSE Date Sheet 2027 for Classes 10 and 12 Expected Soon: Past Trends and Key Preparation Insights

CBSE Date Sheet 2027 for Classes 10 and 12 Expected Soon: Past Trends and Key Preparation Insights New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is gearing up to announce the much-awaited tentative schedule for the Class 10 an...

Posted On: 28/09/2026

GATE 2027 Registration Deadline Extended: Check New Dates, Other Details

GATE 2027 Registration Deadline Extended: Check New Dates, Other Details New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, the organizing institute for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027, has officially extended ...

Posted On: 28/09/2026

UPTET 2026 Certificate Correction Window Live: Essential Guidelines and Instructions Released by UPESSC

UPTET 2026 Certificate Correction Window Live: Essential Guidelines and Instructions Released by UPESSC LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) has officially commenced the online correction window for the Uttar Pr...

Posted On: 26/09/2026

View all

Admission Open

ICFAI University (IFHE)

Hyderabad, Telangana

BBA, BCA, L.L.B, LLM, B.Arch, B.Sc, BA, MA, EMBA, BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.), Ph.D in Law, Ph.D, PG Diploma, Ph.D (Economics), B.E / B.Tech, Ph.D

Apply Brochure

Admission Open

IBS Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Telangana

MBA

Apply Brochure

Admission Open

Presidency University, Bangalore

Bangalore, Karnataka

MBA, BBA, MCA, BCA, LLM, B.Com, B.Sc, BA, Bachelor of Design, BBA LLB (Hons.), B.Com.(Hons.), BA LLB (Hons) Integrated, B.Com LL.B. (Hons) integrated, B.E / B.Tech, M.E / M.Tech

Apply Brochure