India still stays slightly above the baseline GDP threshold for education set by Unesco, although it finds its share in total government expenditure dipping under the required level. Education accounts for 4.1% of GDP and 14.2% of total public expenditure, down from 15.7% in 2015 and below UNESCO’s 15% benchmark, according to its 2026 SDG 4 Scorecard.
The funding situation in education becomes more conspicuous as it trails behind in terms of secondary school completion as well. According to the latest figures, the lower secondary (Classes VI-VIII) completion rate is at 86% compared to the target figure of 99% for 2025, while the upper secondary (Classes IX-XII) rate is at 51% as opposed to 84%. Progress at both levels has been classified as slow by Unesco.
