The Unified District Information System for Education (Udise plus) is India’s largest and most important school education database. It collects detailed information about schools, teachers, students, infrastructure, and enrollment across the country. Over the years, Udise plus has played a central role in shaping educational planning and policy decisions.
This article explains the history, development, challenges, data reliability, and recent concerns related to Udise plus in a clear and structured way.
The Beginning of DISE (1994–95)
The journey began in 1994–95 when the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) established the District Information System for Education (DISE). The initiative was supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and UNICEF India during the launch of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP).
The main purpose of DISE was to meet the growing demand for reliable data in primary education. At that time, policymakers needed accurate school-level information to improve planning and monitor progress.
Initially, DISE covered only DPEP districts—18 states and 272 districts.
Expansion duringSarvaShikshaAbhiyan
In 2000–01, during the implementation of the SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA), DISE expanded to cover the entire country and elementary education level.
By 2005–06, data from all states and districts at the elementary level were being collected nationwide. This marked the first time India had a unified education data system covering the entire elementary sector.
Transformation into UDISE (2012–13)
In 2012–13, the Ministry of Education directed that DISE be expanded to include the entire school education system—from Class I to Class XII.
For the first time, data from all school levels were collected using a single Data Capture Format (DCF). From this point onward, DISE became known as Unified DISE (UDISE).
During this transition:
All parallel information systems were discontinued.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) stopped conducting the All India School Education Survey (AISES).
UDISE was granted official statistics status.
Since then, the Ministry has relied exclusively on UDISE data for school education publications.
Shift to Udise plus (2018–19)
From 1994 to 2018, NIEPA managed and supported DISE/UDISE. However, in 2018–19, the system was renamed Udise plus and transferred directly to the Ministry of Education.
Only data generated by Udise plus is now used in the formulation of annual education plans under schemes like SamagraShiksha.
Improvements and Emerging Concerns
Improvements Under NIEPA
Under NIEPA’s management:
Data quality improved significantly.
Data time lag was reduced.
Independent third-party verification (5% random sample checks) was introduced.
Detailed publications were regularly released.
However, many of these practices were discontinued after the transfer to the Ministry. Independent verification stopped, and several analytical publications were discontinued for unknown reasons.
Current Data Availability Issues
As of October 24, 2024:
The latest available Udise plus data is for 2021–22.
Data for 2022–23 and 2023–24 has not yet been released.
This delay has raised concerns regarding transparency and timeliness.
Currently, the Ministry publishes only one online document every two years: the UDISE Booklet.
Press Information Bureau Clarification (March 23, 2023)
On March 23, 2023, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a clarification regarding dropout rates in Odisha and the reliability of Udise plus data.
The statement responded to claims made in the Odisha Assembly questioning the reported 27.3% dropout rate at the secondary level and the reliability of Udise plus data.
The Ministry clarified that:
Udise plus is the most trusted database in India for school education.
It covers:
14.89 lakh schools
95 lakh teachers
26.5 crore students
The data is collected by school head teachers and validated at:
Block/Cluster level
District level
State level
Finally, the State Project Director (SPD) certifies the data. Once certified, the state considers the data officially approved.
The Ministry described Udise plus as “One Nation, One Database” for school education.
Dropout Trends in Odisha
According to Udise plus 2021–22 data:
Secondary dropout rate in Odisha: 27.3%
National secondary dropout rate: 12.6%
National upper primary dropout rate: 3%
Enrollment transitions in Odisha showed concerning declines:
From Class 8 to 9: 17.3% drop
From Class 10 to 11: 49.9% drop
From Class 11 to 12: 5.2% drop
These figures indicate significant dropout during transitions from upper primary to secondary and from secondary to higher secondary levels.
Comparison with Other StatesOdisha
Upper Primary Dropout: 7.3%
Secondary Dropout: 27.3%
Girls’ dropout at secondary level: 25%
Uttar Pradesh
Upper Primary Dropout: 2.9%
Secondary Dropout: 9.7%
These figures show that Odisha’s secondary dropout rate is considerably higher than the national average and several large states.
How Udise plus Works
Udise plus is an online portal developed by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL). It tracks:
School infrastructure
Enrollment
Teachers
Facilities
Student transitions
Each recognized school receives a login ID and password to submit data through the Data Capture Format (DCF).
Key Questions about Data Quality
1. Is Udise plus reliable?
The Ministry states it is the most trusted education database in India. However, concerns remain due to the discontinuation of independent verification and sampling checks.
2. Why are data releases delayed?
Data for 2022–23 and 2023–24 has not been made public, raising transparency concerns.
3. How important is Udise plus?
Udise plus data is critical for:
Annual educational planning
Resource allocation
Infrastructure development
Dropout reduction strategies
However, there are concerns that district and state plans under SamagraShiksha do not fully utilize the data insights.
District level data initiatives
Udise plus has evolved from a small district-level data initiative in 1994 into India’s largest school education management information system. It has played a major role in shaping national education planning.
While the system achieved significant improvements under NIEPA, recent delays in data publication and the discontinuation of independent verification have raised concerns among researchers and policymakers.
