Karnataka has improved its school education score and climbed one grade in the Centre's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the latest report released by the Ministry of Education. However, no state or Union Territory reached the top three categories—Utkarsh, Uttam-1, or Uttam-2—this year. Chandigarh was the only administration to be placed in the Uttam-3 category.
PGI 2.0 Categories and Karnataka's Performance
The PGI 2.0 classifies states and Union Territories into ten grades: Utkarsh (top), Uttam-1, Uttam-2, Uttam-3, Uttam-4, Uttam-5, Uttam-6, Uttam-7, Prajwal, and Prabhav. Karnataka moved from its previous grade to a higher one, reflecting improvements in key parameters such as learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, and governance. The state's overall score increased, though specific numerical details were not disclosed in the report.
Chandigarh Leads, Others Lag
Chandigarh emerged as the top performer, securing a place in the Uttam-3 category, which is the highest achieved by any entity this year. No other state or Union Territory managed to score in the top three categories, indicating a general need for improvement across the country. The PGI 2.0 report highlighted that many states still face challenges in achieving high learning outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality education.
Key Findings and Impact
The PGI 2.0 assesses states on a total of 1,000 points, with domains including learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, equity, and governance. Karnataka's improvement is attributed to better student performance in assessments, increased enrollment rates, and enhanced teacher training programs. The state government has implemented several initiatives under the 'Karnataka School Education Quality Index' to boost learning levels. According to the report, "Karnataka has shown consistent progress in foundational literacy and numeracy, which contributed to its grade upgrade." The improvement is expected to strengthen the state's case for additional central funding under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
National Context and Future Goals
The PGI 2.0 results underscore the need for accelerated efforts to meet the National Education Policy 2020 targets. The Ministry of Education urged states to focus on bridging learning gaps, especially in rural areas. Karnataka's rise serves as a model for other states, but the absence of any entity in the top three categories highlights systemic challenges. The government aims to have at least five states in the Utkarsh category by 2030 under the PGI framework.
