Every statistic on our website is grounded in published research, government data, or internationally recognised sources. We believe transparency builds trust — with our partners, our donors, and the communities we serve.
Key statistic
Up to 90%
Of learning differences go unidentified in Indian schools
How we arrived at this figure: Research estimates that 10–12% of Indian school children have specific learning disorders (UNESCO MGIEP; NIMHANS studies). However, Census 2011 and UDISE+ data show that only approximately 1% of enrolled students are officially identified as having a disability. The gap between estimated prevalence (~10%) and identified cases (~1%) suggests that up to 90% of learning differences remain unidentified. This is further supported by field research showing that teachers frequently fail to recognise learning difficulties in their classrooms due to lack of training and screening tools.
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Key statistic
35 million+
Children likely struggling silently with learning challenges
How we arrived at this figure: Applying the internationally accepted prevalence rate of 10% for specific learning disorders (consistent with estimates from UNESCO, NIMHANS, and international studies) to India's 350 million student population gives an estimated 35 million children with learning differences. The majority of these children have never been screened or identified.
Sources: [1] [2] [6]
Key statistic
350 million+
Students registered in India's education system
Source: Government of India, UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) annual report. This figure includes students enrolled across primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels in government, aided, and private schools.
Sources: [6]
Key statistic
50+
Students per class in many Indian government schools
Source: UDISE+ data and multiple studies on pupil-teacher ratios in Indian government schools confirm class sizes frequently exceed 50 students, particularly at primary level in urban and semi-urban government schools. The Right to Education Act mandates a 30:1 ratio, but this is widely unmet.
Sources: [6] [7]
References
UNESCO MGIEP. "Learning Disabilities — What, Why and How?" Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development.
mgiep.unesco.org/article/learning-disabilities-what-why-and-how
Bandla S., Mandadi G.D., Bhogaraju A. (2023). "Prevalence of Specific Learning Disorders in School Children." Archives of Mental Health, 24(2), 128–132. Published by NIMHANS, Bangalore.
journals.lww.com
Chauhan A. et al. (2023). "Prevalence of Specific Learning Disorders Among Children in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." PMC / National Library of Medicine.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Impact Initiative. "The Paradox of Disability and Education in India." Institute of Development Studies.
archive.ids.ac.uk
"Disability in India: An Analysis of Census 2011 Data and its Implications for Inclusive Education" (2024). Education for All in India.
educationforallinindia.com
Government of India. UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus). Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy.
udiseplus.gov.in
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Government of India.
education.gov.in