The Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS): Education 2025, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, found that families spend an average of Rs 2,863 per student annually in government schools, compared with Rs 25,002 in non-government schools.
Government schools continue to be the backbone of the system, yet, for parents in cities, the reliance on private schools often means bearing costs that stretch family budgets.
School education in India continues to weigh heavily on household budgets. A new government data clearly shows wide differences in spending between government and private schools, as well as between rural and urban families.
The Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS): Education 2025, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, covered more than 52,000 households and nearly 58,000 students nationwide between April and June this year. The findings highlight not just how much parents are spending, but also where the money goes.
Government schools remain the mainstay of India's education system, accounting for 55.9 per cent of total student enrolment. This share climbs to two-thirds (66 per cent) in rural areas, where families rely more on public schooling, compared with 30.1 per cent in urban centres.
By contrast, private unaided schools account for nearly a third (31.9 per cent) of enrolments nationwide.
When it comes to expenditure, the gap becomes concerning. Families spend an average of Rs 2,863 per student annually in government schools, compared with Rs 25,002 in non-government schools. Within private unaided schools in cities, almost every student (98 per cent) reported paying course fees, while in rural government schools, only about a quarter (25.3 per cent) did so.
Across all schools, course fees form the single largest expense amount to an average of Rs 7,111 per student nationwide. Urban households spend far more, about Rs 15,143 on course fees alone compared to Rs 3,979 in rural areas. Other major heads of spending include textbooks and stationery (Rs 2,002 on average), transport, uniforms, and miscellaneous charges.
Beyond schools, private coaching has become a significant part of education spending. The survey shows 27 per cent of students took coaching classes during the academic year, with participation higher in cities (30.7 per cent) than villages (25.5 per cent).
The financial outlay rises with grade levels. At the higher secondary stage, urban households spend nearly Rs 9,950 per student annually on coaching, more than double the Rs 4,548 in rural areas. Even at the pre-primary level, families reported spending money on coaching, though at much lower amounts.
Data shows that nearly 95 per cent of students depend on their own families to finance school education, while only about 1.2 per cent reported government scholarships as their main source of support.
The survey also captured sharp differences across states and union territories. In North Indian states and UTs such as Chandigarh, parents spend the most, at Rs 49,711 per student annually, followed by Himachal Pradesh (Rs 39,550) and Haryana (Rs 37,148).
Among southern states, average spending per student ranges from Rs 26,078 in Andhra Pradesh to Rs 33,962 in Karnataka.
Delhi parents reported spending Rs 20,411 per student, while in Uttar Pradesh the figure stood at Rs 19,795.
However, the data in this latest survey hardly notes the burden of affordability when it comes to children's school education in India.
CA Deepak Bhati, Co-Founder of Digiwhistle, recently pointed out in a widely shared LinkedIn post that even pre-school education in Tier-1 cities can cost upwards of Rs 2.5 to 3.5 lakh per year per child. This could be almost half the annual income of many middle-class households.
He cited examples of nursery fees in Hyderabad touching Rs 2.5 lakh a year, while Class 3 fees at CBSE schools can cross Rs 2.1 lakh annually. "Admission feels like an auction, tuition feels like an EMI, and quality still feels like a lottery," he wrote, echoing the frustration of many parents. People in the comments section noted that what worries them most is not just the cost, but the pressure it puts on kids and parents both.
This lived reality goes beyond the averages captured by such government surveys.
