Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Chandigarh Leads India’s Top 10 Educated Regions for 2026
India used an index to compare school education across its states and Union Territories.
Chandigarh received the highest overall score.
Kerala came second.
Puducherry, Goa, and Delhi followed in the next three places.
Punjab, Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Haryana also made the top 10.
The index looks at whether children can access schools and participate in education.
It also checks whether students stay in school, learn well, and have good facilities.
The rankings are for the 2025-26 school year and are presented as the 2026 list.
Chandigarh ranked first in the School Education Development Index 2025-26.
Kerala retained second place, while Puducherry ranked third and Goa fourth.
Delhi placed fifth, followed by Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Lakshadweep ranked ninth, and Haryana completed the top 10.
The index measures access, participation, retention, quality, and infrastructure in school education.
- Who
- Indian states and Union Territories assessed through the School Education Development Index.
- What
- The School Education Development Index 2025-26 ranked Chandigarh first, Kerala second, and nine other regions in the top 10.
- When
- The rankings cover 2025-26 and are presented as the 2026 list.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- To assess school education using measures of access, participation, retention, quality, and infrastructure.
- Index
- School Education Development Index (SEDI) 2025-26
- First place
- Chandigarh
- Second place
- Kerala
- Third place
- Puducherry
- Fourth place
- Goa
- Fifth place
- Delhi
- Assessment areas
- Access, participation, retention, quality, and infrastructure