Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2020-21 released

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) has released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and Union Territories (UTs) for 2020-21.

Key findings of PGI 2020-21:

• A total of 7 States and UTs, Viz., Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh have attained Level II (score 901-950) in 2020-21 as compared to none in 2017-18 and 4 in 2019-20.
  • Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are the new entrants to the highest achieved level of any State so far.
• The newly formed UT viz., Ladakh has made significant improvement in PGI from Level 8 to Level 4 in 2020-21 or improved its score by 299 points in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20 resulting in highest ever improvement in a single year.
• None of the states has so far attained the highest level (L-1).
• The inter-state disparity in school education in India has reduced in the last four years.

About the Performance Grading Index (PGI):

• The Performance Grading Index (PGI) is a unique index for evidence-based comprehensive analysis of the school education system in India.
• Initiated by: Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education.
• Objective: to promote evidence-based policymaking and highlight course correction to ensure quality education for all.
• Methodology: The PGI structure comprises 1,000 points across 70 parameters grouped into five broad categories (Learning Outcomes, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, and Governance Process).
• It ranked the states and UTs based on the scores out of 1000 points. The highest achievable grade is Level 1 with a score above 950. The lowest grade is Level 10 with a score below 551.

Recent government scheme promoting education

• New India Literacy Programme (NILP): It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21st century.
• Samagra Shiksha: This is an integrated scheme covering all classes from pre-primary to senior secondary. 
• ‘Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ): It is an indicative and suggestive Implementation Plan for School Education developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
• National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat): The scheme aims to ensure that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by the end of Grade 3.