SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has 4,386 fewer government schools than it had five years ago, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the Union government reiterating that decisions on opening, merging or closing schools rest with the respective state governments and Union Territory administrations.
Data shared by the Ministry of Education in response to an unstarred question showed that the number of government schools in Jammu and Kashmir declined from 23,173 in 2021-22 to 18,787 in 2025-26. The number stood at 18,785 in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 before increasing marginally by two schools this year.
Replying to the question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and that the opening, merger or closure of schools falls within the jurisdiction of the respective state governments and Union Territory administrations.
The minister said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 permits consolidation of schools only when it is carried out judiciously and without affecting students’ access to neighbourhood schools. He said the concept of school complexes or clusters aims to improve resource efficiency, governance and management while ensuring access to education is not compromised.
The ministry also informed Parliament that the total number of government schools across the country declined from 10,22,386 in 2021-22 to 10,05,245 in 2025-26, according to data reported by states and UTs through the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
The Centre said it continues to provide financial assistance to states and UTs under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for opening and strengthening schools, improving infrastructure, constructing classrooms, providing transport facilities, free textbooks and uniforms, and undertaking enrolment and retention drives. However, it reiterated that decisions relating to school mergers, closures, teacher recruitment and deployment remain the responsibility of the respective state governments and UT administrations.
