No state gets an A in education performance grading index. Here's where Delhi stands
The Ministry of Education's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26 found that no State or Union Territory achieved the highest performance grades. Chandigarh topped the rankings in Uttam-3, while Delhi was placed in Prachesta-1. The overall performance gap among States has narrowed.
by India Today Education Desk · India TodayIn Short
- No State or UT achieved top three PGI grades in 2025-26
- Chandigarh tops with Uttam-3 grade, Delhi in Prachesta-1
- PGI uses performance bands, not rankings, for fair assessment
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for States and Union Territories for 2025-26, and for yet another year, no State or Union Territory has secured the highest performance grades.
Instead of ranking States and UTs, the Performance Grading Index (PGI) categorises them into performance bands, allowing multiple States and UTs to fall within the same grade. The Ministry says this approach promotes a more balanced assessment by encouraging improvement rather than competition.
Among all States and UTs, Chandigarh emerged as the top performer, becoming the only Union Territory to be placed in the 'Uttam-3' grade (761-820 points). Delhi, meanwhile, has been placed in the 'Prachesta-1' grade (701-760 points) alongside Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), Punjab, and Kerala.
NO STATE OR UT REACHES THE TOP THREE GRADES
According to the report, no State or Union Territory qualified for the top three performance categories:
| Grade Range | Score Range | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 91% to 100% | 941-1000 | Utkarsh |
| 81% to 90% | 881-940 | Uttam-1 |
| 71% to 80% | 821-880 | Uttam-2 |
| 61% to 70% | 761-820 | Uttam-3 |
| 51% to 60% | 701-760 | Prachesta-1 |
| 41% to 50% | 641-700 | Prachesta-2 |
| 31% to 40% | 581-640 | Prachesta-3 |
| 21% to 30% | 521-580 | Akanshi-1 |
| 11% to 20% | 461-520 | Akanshi-2 |
| Up to 10% | 401-460 | Akanshi-3 |
The highest-performing category attained this year was Uttam-3, with only Chandigarh making the cut. Here's how States and UTs performed
| Score Range | Grade | States/UTs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 941-1000 | Utkarsh | None | 0 |
| 881-940 | Uttam-1 | None | 0 |
| 821-880 | Uttam-2 | None | 0 |
| 761-820 | Uttam-3 | Chandigarh | 1 |
| 701-760 | Prachesta-1 | DNH&DD, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi | 4 |
| 641-700 | Prachesta-2 | Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha | 5 |
| 581-640 | Prachesta-3 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Uttarakhand | 13 |
| 521-580 | Akanshi-1 | Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya | 13 |
| 461-520 | Akanshi-2 | None | 0 |
| 401-460 | Akanshi-3 | None | 0 |
DELHI'S POSITION
Delhi has been placed in the Prachesta-1 category, the second-highest grade achieved this year after Chandigarh's Uttam-3 ranking.
The national capital shares this category with Punjab, Kerala, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), indicating that these regions scored between 701 and 760 points.
PERFORMANCE GAP NARROWS OVER THE YEARS
The report noted that the highest score recorded in 2025-26 was 766, while the lowest was 525.7, resulting in a gap of 240.3 points (31.4%). The lowest score was recorded by Meghalaya.
However, the Ministry highlighted that the gap has reduced significantly from 51% in 2017-18 to 31.4% in 2025-26, indicating that States and UTs have gradually improved over the years.
According to the Ministry of Education, the narrowing performance gap reflects the impact of evidence-based monitoring through the Performance Grading Index, sustained policy support, and initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes across States and Union Territories.
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