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Education: Literacy, Infrastructure, and Gender Equity
3.1 Literacy and Enrolment
Literacy rate of Rajasthan stands at 66.1% (Census 2011) — below the national average of 74.04%. The gender breakdown reveals a structural challenge:
| Category | Rajasthan (2011) | India (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall literacy | 66.1% | 74.04% |
| Male literacy | 79.2% | 82.14% |
| Female literacy | 52.1% | 65.46% |
| Gender gap | 27.1 pp | 16.68 pp |
Source: Census of India 2011, Registrar General of India
Rajasthan's gender literacy gap of 27.1 percentage points is among the widest in India, exceeded only by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Female literacy improved from 20.4% (1981) to 52.1% (2011) — a 31.7 pp gain over 30 years — reflecting progress but underscoring the distance remaining.
School Infrastructure (2024-25):
- 45,531 government primary and upper primary schools
- 19,739 senior secondary government schools
- Total government schools: 65,270
- Total enrolment: 76.76 lakh students
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 (elementary), 22:1 (secondary)
Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 8
3.2 Key Education Schemes and Results
Samagra Shiksha: Centrally Sponsored Scheme integrating erstwhile SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), RMSA (Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan), and Teacher Education for classes 1-12. Focuses on equity, quality, and infrastructure.
Right to Education — RTE Act 2009: Mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14. Rajasthan notified its RTE Rules in 2011. The 25% reservation for economically weaker sections in private unaided schools is a contentious implementation area in the state.
Praveshotsav 2026: Launched 1 April 2026 — a phased door-to-door enrolment campaign deploying 14,000 officers and 4 lakh teachers across Rajasthan. Targets all children aged 3-18. Class 1 admission age lowered from 6 to 5 years for the 2026-27 session, bringing Rajasthan closer to the National Education Policy 2020 framework of 5+3+3+4 structure.
RBSE Results 2026:
- Class 12 (March 31, 2026): Overall pass rate 96.30% (8.2 lakh students). Science: 97.52%, Arts: 97.54%, Commerce: 93.64%. Girls outperformed boys in Science and Arts.
- Class 10 (March 24, 2026): Over 10.68 lakh students appeared at 6,195 centres (Feb 12-28 exams). Class 5 pass rate: 97.75%; Class 8: 97.01%. RBSE created history by declaring Class 10 results in March — earliest-ever.
- Budget 2026-27 announcement: ₹20,000 e-vouchers for high-scoring students.
CM-RISE Scheme (Rajasthan Innovative Schools of Excellence): ₹1,000 crore scheme to transform 400 government schools into world-class centres — smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering Labs, career counsellors, and modern science labs.
Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana (2025-26): 30,000 seats (12,000 reserved for JEE/NEET) providing free coaching to SC, ST, OBC, MBC, EWS, minority, and specially-abled students with annual family income below ₹8 lakh; financial assistance ₹40,000–₹70,000 per student.
Rajasthan Aapki Beti Yojana: Annual scholarships of ₹2,100 (Classes 1-8) and ₹2,500 (Classes 9-12) for girls from BPL families who have lost one or both parents.
Kalibai Bheel Medhavi Chhatra Scooty Yojana: ~10,500 free scooties annually to meritorious girl students from SC, ST, OBC, Minority, EBC, Denotified, and Nomadic communities for higher education access; 640 seats reserved for Denotified/Nomadic/Semi-Nomadic tribes.
Raj-PAHAL: "School on Wheels" programme providing mobile education units to children of nomadic and migrant families — digital attendance tracking, temporary camps at seasonal migration sites.
3.3 Higher Education and Skill Development
Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC): The nodal skill development agency of the state.
- Trained 8.65 lakh youths in 2024-25 (up to December 2024)
- 16 Model Career Centres (MCC) established across districts for counselling, placement linkage, and career guidance.
National Scheme for ITI Upgradation (2025): The Union Cabinet approved a ₹60,000 crore Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Cabinet: 7 May 2025) to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs and establish 5 National Centres of Excellence for Skilling — targeting 20 lakh youth over 5 years. Co-financed 50% by ADB and World Bank. Rajasthan's ITIs stand to benefit significantly.
e-Shram Registration: 1.43 crore unorganized workers in Rajasthan are registered on the national e-Shram portal (2024-25, up to December) — providing social security portability and linking to welfare schemes.
Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 8