Haryana's NIPUN Mission Achieves Sharp Turnaround in Government School Learning Outcomes
At a time when India faces persistent challenges in ensuring children can read and perform basic arithmetic by Class III—a core objective of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020—Haryana has reported a remarkable improvement in learning outcomes across its government schools. A statewide census-style assessment, exclusively accessed by TOI, reveals that the share of high-performing government schools surged from a mere 7% in September 2025 to an impressive 53% by December 2025, following a targeted remediation drive focused on foundational literacy and numeracy gaps.
From Sample to Census: A New Diagnostic Approach
Haryana's initiative marks a significant shift from traditional sample-based assessments to a comprehensive census-style diagnostic approach. This method measures the competency of every child individually, providing a detailed and accurate picture of learning levels. The exercise covered over 4.35 lakh students across nearly 8,600 government primary schools, utilizing a digital teacher-led assessment system under the NIPUN (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Haryana mission.
The first assessment, conducted in September 2025, uncovered substantial learning gaps across the system. Most schools were classified in Category C, the lowest tier, where fewer than half the students had achieved grade-level competencies. In response, districts developed their own 45-day remediation strategies, grouping students by competency and targeting specific learning deficiencies. Peer-learning approaches were also implemented, with higher-performing students assisting their peers.
Every district made their own strategy for 45 days which also included category A students helping lower category students as all the students were already mapped, said NIPUN Haryana programme officer Pramod Kumar.
Significant Gains in Literacy and Numeracy
The state repeated the assessment in December 2025, using the same teachers who conducted the initial round. Data made a completely significant shift showing unimaginable progress, an official noted. The results demonstrated substantial improvements across both literacy and numeracy domains:
- Class II Literacy: Increased from 46.5% to 67%.
- Class III Literacy: Rose from 44.2% to 61.4%.
- Class II Numeracy: Improved from 63.7% to 78.8%.
- Class III Numeracy: Enhanced from 50.5% to 71%.
These gains translated into a major shift in school performance categories. The number of Category A schools skyrocketed from 621 to 4,545, while Category C schools plummeted from 6,385 to 1,973.
Context and Future Plans
This progress is particularly significant against the backdrop of India's ongoing foundational learning challenges. National learning surveys have shown only gradual improvements in basic reading and arithmetic. For instance, the proportion of Class III children in government schools able to read a Grade II-level text increased from 16.3% in 2022 to 23.4% in 2024, while proficiency in basic subtraction rose from 20.2% to 27.6% during the same period.
Officials emphasized that the next phase will focus on sustaining these gains and expanding the program. The state plans to extend the NIPUN model to Classes IV and V, with approximately seven lakh students expected to be assessed this year. This expansion aims to build on the momentum and further enhance educational outcomes across Haryana's government school system.
