Close to 7,993 schools across India reported zero student enrolment, with the highest numbers in West Bengal (3,812) and Telangana (12,245), according to a Niti Aayog report released on Thursday. Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir recorded 13 and 146 such schools, respectively.Titled “School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement”, the report notes that while these schools appear operational in administrative records, they no longer serve any students. “These schools, despite zero enrolment, continue to receive financial and human resources due to the lack of updating of records, showing the difference between on-ground reality and planning,” it stated, using UDISE+ 2024-25 data.The report also highlights significant teacher shortages, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Over one lakh schools operate with only one teacher, accounting for more than 7% of all schools. States such as Jharkhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal report pupil-teacher ratios significantly above the national average, resulting in multi-grade classrooms and limited individual attention for students.Infrastructure gaps persist despite progress. While the share of schools with functional toilets has increased from 85.17% in 2014 to 94% in 2024-25, over 98,592 schools lack functional girls’ toilets, and 61,540 have no usable toilets, contributing to health issues and discouraging attendance.India now has over 14.71 lakh schools and nearly 24.69 crore students, with 50% of schools offering only primary education (Grades 1–5). Only 5.4% of schools provide continuous schooling from Grade 1 to 12, creating transition inefficiencies and increasing dropout risks, the report observed.The study pointed to acute staff shortages in several States. Bihar alone accounts for over 2.08 lakh elementary-level vacancies, 36,035 at the secondary level, and 33,035 at the senior secondary level. Karnataka, Haryana, and Maharashtra also report significant shortfalls. Moreover, most States lack formal career progression routes such as senior teacher, master teacher, or mentor-teacher roles, limiting opportunities for academic leadership and professional advancement.