Over 1 lakh schools shut: Akhilesh Yadav targets Centre in Parliament
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged the Modi government shut over 1 lakh schools and deprived backward communities of educational rights. The Centre clarified that school mergers and closures fall under the jurisdiction of states and Union Territories.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the Central government has “taken away educational rights” from backward communities by shutting down more than 1 lakh schools across the country during the Parliament Monsoon Session 2026.
“The Government of India stole educational rights from India's backward communities. The Modi government shut down over 1 lakh schools across India,” Yadav claimed.
He further alleged that more than 26,000 primary schools have been closed in Uttar Pradesh by the state government.
EDUCATION FALLS UNDER STATE JURISDICTION, CENTRE CLARIFIES
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on July 27, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said that education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making state governments and Union Territory administrations responsible for decisions related to the opening, merger, and closure of schools.
The Ministry of Education stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 permits school consolidation only when it is carried out judiciously and ensures that students’ access to education is not adversely affected.
The Centre also clarified that it does not maintain separate data on school closures and mergers. However, data uploaded by states and UTs on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) shows that the total number of government schools in the country declined from 10,22,386 in 2021-22 to 10,05,245 in 2025-26.
Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of government schools in 2025-26, with 1,37,103 schools. The Ministry also shared district-wise figures for Uttar Pradesh for the last five years, according to media reports.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the Central government has “taken away educational rights” from backward communities by shutting down more than 1 lakh schools across the country during the Parliament Monsoon Session 2026.
“The Government of India stole educational rights from India's backward communities. The Modi government shut down over 1 lakh schools across India,” Yadav claimed.
He further alleged that more than 26,000 primary schools have been closed in Uttar Pradesh by the state government.
EDUCATION FALLS UNDER STATE JURISDICTION, CENTRE CLARIFIES
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on July 27, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said that education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making state governments and Union Territory administrations responsible for decisions related to the opening, merger, and closure of schools.
The Ministry of Education stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 permits school consolidation only when it is carried out judiciously and ensures that students’ access to education is not adversely affected.
The Centre also clarified that it does not maintain separate data on school closures and mergers. However, data uploaded by states and UTs on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) shows that the total number of government schools in the country declined from 10,22,386 in 2021-22 to 10,05,245 in 2025-26.
Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of government schools in 2025-26, with 1,37,103 schools. The Ministry also shared district-wise figures for Uttar Pradesh for the last five years, according to media reports.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the Central government has “taken away educational rights” from backward communities by shutting down more than 1 lakh schools across the country during the Parliament Monsoon Session 2026.
“The Government of India stole educational rights from India's backward communities. The Modi government shut down over 1 lakh schools across India,” Yadav claimed.
He further alleged that more than 26,000 primary schools have been closed in Uttar Pradesh by the state government.
EDUCATION FALLS UNDER STATE JURISDICTION, CENTRE CLARIFIES
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on July 27, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said that education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making state governments and Union Territory administrations responsible for decisions related to the opening, merger, and closure of schools.
The Ministry of Education stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 permits school consolidation only when it is carried out judiciously and ensures that students’ access to education is not adversely affected.
The Centre also clarified that it does not maintain separate data on school closures and mergers. However, data uploaded by states and UTs on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) shows that the total number of government schools in the country declined from 10,22,386 in 2021-22 to 10,05,245 in 2025-26.
Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of government schools in 2025-26, with 1,37,103 schools. The Ministry also shared district-wise figures for Uttar Pradesh for the last five years, according to media reports.
