The latest Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) 2024-25 report by the Union education ministry has placed both Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad in the Prachesta-1 category, among the top four districts in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting moderate performance in school education indicators but also exposing gaps in learning outcomes, digital education and child safety.
PGI-D Evaluation Framework
The PGI-D evaluates districts across the country on a 600-point scale using six broad parameters: learning outcomes, classroom transactions, infrastructure, school safety, digital learning and governance. Districts are then grouped into performance bands such as Daksh, Uttam, Prachesta and Akansha.
While no district in Uttar Pradesh achieved the top Utkarsh or Uttam-1 grades this year, districts scoring between 51% and 60% of the total marks were placed in the Prachesta-1 category, where both Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad featured.
District Scores
Gautam Budh Nagar scored 304 out of 600, emerging as one of Uttar Pradesh's top-performing districts after Varanasi (311) and Kanpur Nagar (309). Ghaziabad followed closely with 300 marks.
Contrasting Strengths
The report shows contrasting strengths between the two National Capital Region districts. Ghaziabad performed better in the crucial Outcomes category, scoring 144 out of 290 compared with Gautam Budh Nagar's 138. This parameter carries the highest weightage and measures student learning levels, access to education and teacher-related indicators. However, Gautam Budh Nagar overtook Ghaziabad overall because of relatively stronger scores in governance processes, classroom transactions and infrastructure.
In the Effective Classroom Transactions category, which evaluates teaching-learning processes, teacher attendance and classroom practices, Gautam Budh Nagar scored 50 out of 90, while Ghaziabad scored 45.
Under Infrastructure, Facilities and Student Entitlements, which assesses school buildings, drinking water, toilets, electricity and benefits such as uniforms and textbooks, Gautam Budh Nagar scored 27 out of 51 against Ghaziabad's 25.
Digital Learning and Safety Gaps
Both districts recorded identical scores of 24 out of 50 in Digital Learning, indicating that even urban districts with strong IT and industrial presence continue to face gaps in technology integration and digital access in government schools.
School safety and child protection also remained weak areas. Gautam Budh Nagar scored 16 out of 35, while Ghaziabad received 14. The category includes indicators related to safety infrastructure, grievance systems and child protection mechanisms in schools.
In governance processes, which measure monitoring systems, administrative efficiency and implementation of schemes, Gautam Budh Nagar scored 50 out of 84 compared with Ghaziabad's 48.
Comparison with National Leaders
Despite being among Uttar Pradesh's better-performing districts, both remain far behind national benchmarks. Districts such as Ernakulam in Kerala, Chandigarh and New Delhi scored above 425 marks and were placed in the higher Uttam-2 category.
The report also reflects the uneven educational landscape within Uttar Pradesh. While urban districts such as Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Kanpur Nagar remained at the top of the state rankings, districts including Bahraich, Shahjahanpur and Siddharthnagar scored below 245.
Grading System
Under the PGI-D grading system, the highest possible grade is Utkarsh, which is awarded to districts scoring more than 90% of the total marks in a category or in the overall assessment. The remaining grades are divided into intervals of 10 percentage points each. Districts scoring between 81% and 90% are placed in Uttam-1, while those scoring 71% to 80% fall under Uttam-2. A score of 61% to 70% is classified as Uttam-3. Similarly, districts scoring between 51% and 60% are graded Prachesta-1, 41% to 50% as Prachesta-2, and 31% to 40% as Prachesta-3.
