Geographical Inequality in Educational Outcomes Across India: An Analysis of 720 Districts in 2021

This commentary examines district-level inequalities in student proficiency across India using data from the 2021 National Achievement Survey. While learning outcomes are often discussed through national- or state-level averages, such averages can obscure substantial geographic variation. We focus on language and mathematics performance across 720 districts for Grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. District-level patterns show widespread low proficiency, with many districts reporting large percentages of students in the Basic or Below Basic categories. We identify 177 districts consistently low-performing across grades and subjects, clustered primarily in north-central and eastern India. These findings highlight substantial geographic inequities in foundational learning and underscore the need for district-focused policies to advance equitable progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 4.1.1.