Meghalaya Hosts Key Workshop on UDISE+ and PGI to Strengthen Data-Driven Education Reforms

Shillong, June 16, 2026: In a significant step toward enhancing educational planning and improving learning outcomes, a day-long workshop focusing on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) and the Performance Grading Index (PGI) was organized in Shillong, Meghalaya. The event brought together education administrators, policymakers, and senior government officials to discuss the growing importance of educational data in shaping effective school education policies.

The workshop served as a platform for detailed discussions on the role of reliable and timely educational data in monitoring school performance, identifying developmental gaps, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Participants examined how information collected through UDISE+ contributes to measuring educational progress and guides interventions aimed at strengthening the school education system.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar, Deputy Director General in the Department of School Education and Literacy, emphasized the importance of data-driven governance in the education sector. He highlighted that accurate educational statistics are essential for planning infrastructure, allocating resources, tracking student enrollment, and ensuring quality learning opportunities across all regions.

During his presentation, Dr. Shreyaskar shared key observations from Meghalaya’s UDISE+ 2024–25 data. He explained how the information collected from schools across the state provides valuable insights into various aspects of education, including enrollment trends, teacher availability, school facilities, and student retention rates. According to him, such data serves as a critical foundation for developing policies that address specific educational challenges.

A major focus of the workshop was the Performance Grading Index (PGI), a framework used to assess the performance of states and union territories across multiple education-related indicators. Experts discussed how PGI rankings can help governments identify strengths and areas requiring improvement, thereby encouraging continuous progress in educational administration and service delivery.

Participants explored strategies that could help Meghalaya enhance its PGI performance in the coming years. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including improving school infrastructure, strengthening teacher training programs, promoting digital learning initiatives, increasing student participation, and enhancing educational equity. Officials stressed that sustained improvements in these areas could significantly contribute to better learning outcomes and stronger institutional performance.

The workshop also highlighted the broader objectives of India’s educational transformation agenda under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Speakers noted that data systems such as UDISE+ play an increasingly important role in tracking the implementation of reforms and measuring their impact on students and schools. By providing a comprehensive database of educational indicators, UDISE+ enables governments to make informed decisions and monitor progress at multiple levels.

Senior officials from the Government of Meghalaya actively participated in the deliberations. Among them was Shri Vijay Kumar Mantri, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya. He joined other education leaders in reviewing current educational trends and discussing collaborative approaches for strengthening the state’s education ecosystem.

Officials attending the workshop underscored the need for continued cooperation between central and state authorities to ensure the accuracy and effective utilization of educational data. They emphasized that high-quality data collection not only improves planning processes but also supports transparency, accountability, and efficient resource management.

Another important theme that emerged during the discussions was the need to bridge educational disparities between urban and rural areas. Participants noted that data-driven interventions can help identify underserved regions and direct resources where they are needed most. Such targeted efforts are expected to contribute to more inclusive and equitable educational development throughout Meghalaya.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening educational governance through better data management and continuous performance evaluation. Stakeholders agreed that leveraging the full potential of UDISE+ and PGI would be instrumental in achieving higher standards of educational quality and ensuring that every student has access to meaningful learning opportunities.

As India continues its journey toward educational transformation, initiatives such as the Shillong workshop demonstrate the growing emphasis on evidence-based policymaking. By combining robust data systems with strategic planning, education authorities aim to create a stronger, more responsive, and future-ready school education framework for Meghalaya and the nation as a whole.