Abstract

The study examined inter-state variations in educational development in India using secondary data from 2018–19 to 2020–21. Composite indices based on 26 indicators were evaluated for six zones and the overall Indian states. Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Sikkim emerged as highly developed states. The index ranged from 0.4599 (Tamil Nadu) to 0.9810 (Meghalaya), classifying states into high, high, middle, low middle, and low development levels. Stepwise regression identified factors influencing educational development as the number of schools, teacher availability, student pass rates, pupil-teacher ratio, gender parity, literacy gaps, and school infrastructure. Additionally, the study highlighted the declining share of education expenditure relative to GDP. Further, there is a need to increase public investments and improve infrastructure in underdeveloped states to reduce regional disparities.

Keywords: Composite index, development, educational sector, inter-state variation, regression analysis.
JEL Codes:  C43, F63, I25

Description

Indian Journal of Economics and Development
Volume 21 No. 3, September 2025, 000-000

https://doi.org/10.35716/IJED-25128

Impact Factor: 0.3 (Web of Science)
NAAS Score: 6.30 (2025)
Indexed in Scopus (SJR = 0.13)
Resurchify Impact Score: 0.23
UGC Approved (UGC Care List Group II)
Index Copernicus (ICV 2023: 105.09)