Income and Regional Differences in Education: Exploring the Impact on Classroom Equality
The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) conducted the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E) as part of the 80th NSS round from April-June 2025. The survey, which gathered data on educational expenditure and choices, painted a striking picture of a deep rural-urban divide in India's education system.
The survey findings revealed that the average annual expenditure per child in private unaided schools in urban areas is nearly ₹29,000, a staggering ten times higher than in government schools (₹3,000). In rural areas, the average expenditure per child in government schools is ₹2,801, while it soars to ₹22,919 in private unaided schools.
The biggest cost for education in urban areas is the course fee (₹19,457), followed by transportation (₹7,041) and stationary/books (₹2,962). In rural areas, the course fee (₹8,120) is still the largest expense, followed by transportation (₹4,650) and stationary/books (₹1,753).
The survey findings suggest that education in India is not just an academic decision but also an economic one. In urban areas, over 51% of students attend private unaided schools, while in rural areas, 66% of children study in government schools.
Malte Dreyer, Director of the Computer and Media Service (CMS) at Humboldt University of Berlin, was responsible for compiling the data for the CMS: Educational Survey 2025. He served as spokesperson for the Strategy and Organization working group of German-speaking universities in ZKI e.V.
The survey tracked the household spending on schooling, private coaching, and related costs. It also offered insights by gender, sector, and school type. Boys see higher investments in education compared to girls, with an average annual expenditure of ₹13,901 for boys and ₹12,101 for girls.
Data from multiple other sources, such as UDISE+, and previous NSS surveys, can also be found on Dataful, a platform offering clean, structured, and ready-to-use datasets on Education in India. The data from the survey suggests that access to better educational facilities is influenced by both geography and the family's ability to pay.
In conclusion, the CMS:E survey has shed light on the stark disparities in educational expenditure and choices between rural and urban areas in India. The findings underscore the need for policies that ensure equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of their geographical location or family's financial status.
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