The Millennium Development Goals consist of Eight Goals. Goal No. 2 i.e. “Achieve Universal Primary Education” is related to the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The achievements are as under:

1. Net enrolment ratio in primary education: The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in elementary classes has increased from 96% in 1999 to 113% in 2012. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) in primary education (age 6-10 years) was estimated at 84.5 per cent in 2005-06 (U-DISE). The NER has increased to 88.08 percent in 2013-14 and the NER for girls (89.26 per cent) was higher than that for boys (87.2 percent).
2. Proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach grade 5: DISE report 2011-12 shows a steady increasing trend over the years in the estimate of the indicator ‘ratio of enrolment of Grade V to Grade I’ from 78.08 in 2009-10 to 86.05 in 2011-12.
3. Literacy rate of the 15-24 year old: The youth literacy rate has increased from 61.9% in 1991 to 86.14% in 2011 and the trend shows India is likely to reach about 93.4% by 2015, as against the target of 100% with estimated male and female youth literacy rate likely to be at 94.8% and 92.5%.

Universalisation of primary education has been supported by the enactment of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.  Gross Enrolment Ratio higher than 100 per cent has been achieved. The Government is continuously making efforts to improve Universal Primary Education through strengthening of existing programmes such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, and through the enactment of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and other measures of the Ministry.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha question.

Source: PIB