UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 8 July 2026

School Dropout Rate Falls, Teacher Strength Crosses 1 Crore – Explained

July 8, 2026

School Dropout Rate Latest News

The Union Ministry of Education has released two key reports on school education, the UDISE+ 2025-26 report and the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26, showing a decline in dropout rates, improved teacher strength, and continued challenges in learning retention.

About UDISE+ and PGI

The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is the government of India's official digital database for the education sector.
Maintained by the Ministry of Education, it collates real-time statistics on:
- School infrastructure
- Student enrolment
- Teacher metrics
- Facilities and amenities
- Learning environment
The database is populated through voluntary uploading of data by schools with active UDISE+ codes.
The Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 assesses states and Union Territories across six domains:
- Learning Outcomes
- Access
- Infrastructure and Facilities
- Equity
- Governance Process
- Teacher Education and Training
The PGI uses a 10-tier ranking system to grade states based on their performance in these domains.

Key Findings from UDISE+ 2025-26

Decline in Dropout Rates
- The academic year 2025-26 witnessed a notable reduction in dropout rates across preparatory and secondary levels compared to previous years:
- Preparatory level: Dropout rate declined from 2.3% in 2024-25 to 1.8% in 2025-26.
- Secondary level: Dropout rate declined from 8.2% in 2024-25 to 7.0% in 2025-26.
- However, the highest dropout rates at the secondary level were recorded in Ladakh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
- The report attributes the improvement to:
  - An increased number of schools offering secondary education
  - Enhanced accessibility
  - Targeted interventions
  - More supportive and responsive school environments
Improvement in Student Retention
- Student retention has shown a positive trend at higher levels:
- Middle level: Retention increased from 82.8% (2024-25) to 83.7% (2025-26).
- Secondary level: Retention increased significantly from 47.2% (2024-25) to 51.9% (2025-26).
- However, a marginal decline was observed at the foundational and preparatory levels in 2025-26, following three consecutive years of improvement.
Concerning Retention Reality
- Despite improvements, only about half of Class I students make it to Class XII, highlighting the persistent challenge of student attrition at higher levels of schooling.
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
- The GER at the secondary level improved considerably:
- From 68.5% in 2024-25 to 71.7% in 2025-26.
- This reflects greater accessibility and continued enrolment at higher levels.
Teacher Strength Crosses One Crore
- For the first time in any academic year, the total number of school teachers crossed 1.02 crore during 2025-26, an increase of 8.3% compared to 2022-23.
- Women continue to account for the majority of the workforce at 54.9%.
- Rising teacher numbers are seen as critical for improving student-teacher ratios and ensuring quality education.
Pupil-Teacher Ratios (PTR)
- PTRs have continued to improve, comfortably surpassing the NEP target of 30:1:
- Foundational stage: 10
- Preparatory: 12
- Middle: 17
- Secondary: 21
School Rationalisation
- Zero-enrolment schools fell by 29% to 5,663.
- Single-teacher schools declined by 3% to 100,843.
Girls' Enrolment
- Girls accounted for 48.4% of total enrolment in 2025-26, marginally up from 48.3% in the previous year.
Digital Access and Infrastructure
- Significant improvements were reported in digital access:
- Computer access in schools increased from 64.7% to 69.9%.
- Internet connectivity improved from 63.5% to 67.4%.
- Basic amenities showed near-universal availability:
- Safe drinking water: 99.5%
- Girls' toilets: 98.5%
- Boys' toilets: 97.2%
- Grid electricity: 95%
- However, playground availability declined from 83% to 81.9%.
Inclusion
- Schools with disability-accessible ramps and handrails increased from 54.9% to 58.2%.
Enrolment Composition
- Minority communities account for over 20% of total enrolment.
- Among minority students: Muslims 79.4%, Christians 10.1%, Sikhs 7.1%, Buddhists 2.0%, Jains 1.3%, Parsis 0.1%.
- Social category breakdown: OBC 44.9%, General 27.5%, SC 17.7%, ST 10%.

Performance Grading Index 2.0 Findings

State-Wise Performance
- The PGI 2025-26 revealed that no state or Union Territory achieved any of the top three grades (71%-100%) in the 10-tier ranking system.
Top Performers
- Chandigarh: The only UT to reach the fourth-highest grade, 'Uttam-3'.
- 'Prachesta-1' category (51%-60%): Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Kerala, and Punjab.
Middle Performers
- 'Prachesta-2' category (41%-50%): Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Lakshadweep.
- 'Prachesta-3' (31%-40%) and 'Akanshi-1' (21%-30%): Most states fall in these categories, with 13 states in each grade.
Aspirational Category
- The 'Akanshi' category (lower end of rankings) includes:
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir
- Northeastern states: Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya
Domain-Wise Leaders
- Learning Outcomes: Punjab tops, followed by Kerala.
- Access: Kerala leads along with Puducherry.
- Teacher Education & Training: Kerala and Lakshadweep share the top position.
- Equity: Tamil Nadu leads.
Decliners
- States showing a decline in PGI scores compared with 2024-25:
- Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, and Uttarakhand
Inter-State Gaps
- Highest score: Chandigarh at 766.0
- Lowest score: Meghalaya at 525.7
- Gap: 31.4% between the top and bottom performers
- Encouragingly, the gap has narrowed from 51% in 2017-18, indicating some progress in reducing inter-state disparities in school education quality.

Significance and Concerns

Positive Trends
- Falling dropout rates signal improved retention and school responsiveness.
- Rising teacher strength and improving PTR indicate better educational conditions.
- Digital access improvements reflect the growing integration of technology in schools.
- Near-universal basic amenities show progress in school infrastructure.
Persisting Challenges
- Only half of Class I students reach Class XII, reflecting continued attrition at higher levels.
- No state has achieved the top three PGI grades, indicating significant room for improvement.
- Marginal decline in retention at foundational and preparatory levels needs attention.
- Wide inter-state disparities in performance, especially in aspirational states.
- Aspirational category states, particularly in the northeast and Hindi-belt, require focused intervention.
Structural Concerns
- Playground availability declining raises concerns about physical education.
- Learning outcomes remain a challenge, especially in aspirational states.
- Gender parity improvements remain marginal.
- Regional disparities in teacher availability and school infrastructure persist.

Source: ET | Print

Char Kaman Restoration: Reviving Hyderabad’s Historic Qutb Shahi Gateways

July 8, 2026

Char Kaman Restoration Latest News

The Telangana government has announced that the Char Kaman — four ornamental gateways near Hyderabad's Charminar — will soon undergo restoration.
The project has received a major boost, with administrative sanction granted to invite tenders and appoint a consultant for the work.

What Is the Char Kaman

While Hyderabad's Charminar is widely known as a symbol of the Qutb Shahi dynasty's architectural legacy, fewer people are aware of the four ornamental gateways surrounding it, collectively called the Char Kaman.
These arches once marked the entrances to the old city of Hyderabad.
Basically, the Char Kaman public square enclosed by four large archways was built as a garden at the entry to the Qutb Shahi Palace complex to the north of the Charminar area with Dad Mahal inside the enclosure.
The Char-Su-Ka-Houz (tank of four directions) or Gulzar Houz was the freshwater fountain in the centre of this square.
The four Kamans are namely Kali Kaman to the east, Sher-e-Batil ki Kaman to the west, Machili Kaman to the north and Charminar Kaman to the south of Gulzar Houz.
There are three floors on each end of the arch, originally constructed as chambers for royal guards.

Historical Background

The Charminar was built between 1589 and 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
According to Hyderabad historian Mohammed Safiullah, the Char Kaman were likely constructed a few years later, around 1594.
Historian Syed Ali Asghar Bilgrami, in his 1927 book Landmarks of Deccan, notes that after completing the Charminar, Shah commissioned these four surrounding arches.

Original Names and Their Meanings

The four gateways originally had different names from what they're known by today:
- West Arch — Daulat Khanae Ali: Meant "the gate of the royal residence."
- East Arch — Naqqar Khana: Meant "gate of the palace where drums are beaten."
- The central area enclosed by all four arches was called Jilau Khana, or the royal vestibule.

How the Present Names Came About

North Arch — Machli Kaman (Fish Arch): This arch was tall enough for "a huge elephant with a canopied litter" to pass through. It got its name because a large bamboo-and-paper fish, resembling a miniature aeroplane, was suspended at its centre every lunar new year.
South Arch — Charminar Kaman
East Arch — Kali Kaman (or Kaman of Shambhoo Pershad): Meaning the "black arch."
West Arch — Kaman Sher Dil (or Sihr Batil): Meaning "gateway for the lion-hearted" or "magic breaker."
These names continue to be used in Hyderabad today. Historians also note that the Qutb Shahi palaces were originally located near the western arch, though these structures have since been lost to time.

Historical Role of the Gateways

During the Qutb Shahi period, the Char Kaman witnessed heavy traffic and served an important administrative function.
Nearby outhouses served as sitting areas for nobles and officials. Each morning, noblemen would arrive with their retinue and attendants.
Upon reaching the royal vestibule at the centre of the four arches, they would leave their attendants behind and proceed alone for an audience with the king.

What Does the Restoration Plan Involve

The restoration work will primarily focus on:
- Structural repairs
- Conservation of heritage features
The broader goal is to improve the overall physical condition of the monuments while carefully preserving their historical character.
Heritage conservationists have long advocated for this restoration, citing damage caused over the years by growing urbanisation and the resulting pollution in the area.

Source: IE | TH

Char Kaman Restoration FAQs

Q1: Why is the Char Kaman Restoration project significant?

Ans: The Char Kaman Restoration project seeks to preserve four historic Qutb Shahi gateways, protecting Hyderabad's architectural heritage and improving their structural condition for future generations.

Q2: What are the four gateways covered under the Char Kaman Restoration?

Ans: The Char Kaman Restoration includes Machli Kaman, Kali Kaman, Sher-e-Batil Kaman and Charminar Kaman, which surround the historic Gulzar Houz near Charminar.

Q3: What historical role did the monuments play before the Char Kaman Restoration?

Ans: Before the Char Kaman Restoration, the gateways served as ceremonial entrances to the Qutb Shahi palace complex and important administrative spaces for royal officials.

Q4: What activities are planned under the Char Kaman Restoration project?

Ans: The Char Kaman Restoration project focuses on structural repairs, conservation of heritage features and preservation of the monuments' original architectural character.

Q5: Why is the Char Kaman Restoration important for heritage conservation?

Ans: The Char Kaman Restoration protects an important cultural landmark from pollution, urbanisation and structural deterioration while preserving Hyderabad's historical identity.

Ram Temple Trust Governance: Why the Trust Is Appointing Its First CEO

July 8, 2026

Ram Temple Trust Governance Latest News

The Ram Temple Trust has accepted the resignations of its two most influential office-bearers — General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra.
Along with this, the Trust has announced it will appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the first time.
This marks the biggest administrative overhaul of the body since it was set up in 2020. The move comes in the wake of a donation-theft controversy that exposed serious gaps in the temple's management system.

How Did the Trust Come Into Being

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust owes its existence to the Supreme Court's November 2019 Ayodhya judgment.
- The Court had directed the government to formulate a scheme within three months to set up a trust and transfer the disputed land to it.
- The Central government constituted the Trust on February 5, 2020, and transferred the acquired land to it through a Gazette notification.
Unlike major temples such as Tirupati, Jagannath, Vaishno Devi, or Kashi Vishwanath, the Ram Temple is not governed by a dedicated state legislation.
Instead, its legal foundation rests on a combination of four things: the Supreme Court's 2019 judgment, the 1993 Ayodhya Acquisition Act, the Central government's scheme and notification, and the Trust's own deed.
This makes the Ram Temple Trust legally unique — it is neither a conventional private religious trust nor a statutory temple board created through legislation.
Instead, it is a public religious trust brought into existence through executive action, in implementation of a judicial mandate.

Who Runs the Trust

The Trust has 15 members and functions as the temple's highest decision-making body. It is chaired by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
However, due to his age and health issues, day-to-day leadership had gradually shifted to General Secretary Champat Rai, who became the institution's public face.
The Trust deed provides for a mix of permanent members, nominated members, and ex-officio representatives. This ensures representation from the religious community, as well as from the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments.
Temple construction was supervised by a separate committee headed by Nripendra Mishra, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, as an ex-officio member.

How Is the Ram Temple Different From Other Major Temples

A useful comparison emerges when we look at how India's other major temples are governed:
This comparison shows a key structural gap: unlike these other temples, which are run by government-appointed executive officers under statutory frameworks, the Ram Temple has so far been managed directly by its trustees and office-bearers themselves.

How Was the Temple Managed Day-to-Day

Unlike Tirupati or Vaishno Devi, the Ram Temple did not have a professional chief executive until now.
Instead, administrative responsibilities were informally divided among individual office-bearers
This "founder-led" model worked reasonably well during the temple's construction phase.
However, it came under severe strain once the temple became one of India's busiest pilgrimage sites, receiving around one lakh devotees daily.

What Went Wrong: The Donation Controversy

Investigations into a donation-theft case exposed serious governance weaknesses. Many temple staff had been engaged for daily work in an ad hoc manner, with appointment letters missing for several employees.
Notably, six outsourced counting agents — officially hired by the State Bank of India for counting donations — had actually been recommended by Trust office-bearers themselves.
While a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for temple operations had been drafted, its actual implementation was found lacking.
Notably, a private internal audit conducted back in 2020 had already flagged the temple's management as "highly unprofessional," citing the absence of SOPs, systematic financial records, defined reporting hierarchies, HR processes, and maker-checker controls.

Why Appoint a CEO Now

The decision to appoint a CEO represents the Trust's biggest administrative restructuring since its formation.
Under this new arrangement, the CEO will handle day-to-day administration, allowing the Trust and its members to focus primarily on policy decisions.
This move brings the Ram Temple's governance model closer to that of other major Indian temples — where professional executive officers or chief administrators handle operations, separate from the trustee body.

Why Does the Trust's Rulebook Remain Largely Unknown

Unlike most major Indian temple institutions, much of the Ram Temple Trust's internal rulebook remains outside the public domain.
While the Centre notified the Trust's creation in February 2020, the detailed government scheme and Trust Deed under which it operates have never been made public.
- When an RTI applicant sought these documents, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Central Information Commission (CIC) that they formed part of a "confidential file" due to the sensitivity of the matter.
- The CIC further ruled that the Trust does not qualify as a "public authority" under the RTI Act.
This stands in sharp contrast to institutions like Tirupati, Jagannath, Vaishno Devi, and Kashi Vishwanath, whose governing Acts and administrative structures are all publicly available.

Source: IE | TI

Ram Temple Trust Governance FAQs

Q1: Why is Ram Temple Trust Governance being restructured?

Ans: Ram Temple Trust Governance is being restructured following a donation-related controversy that exposed administrative weaknesses and highlighted the need for professional management.

Q2: How is Ram Temple Trust Governance different from other major temple administrations?

Ans: Ram Temple Trust Governance is based on a trust framework rather than a dedicated statutory law, unlike many major temples governed by specific legislative Acts.

Q3: What role will the CEO play in Ram Temple Trust Governance?

Ans: Under the new Ram Temple Trust Governance framework, the CEO will oversee day-to-day administration while trustees focus on policy and strategic decisions.

Q4: Why has transparency become an issue in Ram Temple Trust Governance?

Ans: Ram Temple Trust Governance has faced scrutiny because its governing documents remain largely unavailable in the public domain and the Trust is outside the RTI framework.

Q5: What is the significance of the CEO appointment in Ram Temple Trust Governance?

Ans: The CEO appointment marks a shift towards professional administration, improved accountability and stronger institutional systems within Ram Temple Trust Governance.