New Delhi :
On Sunday, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal approved the 2019-20 Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and Union Territories, which was created using a list of 70 criteria to enhance school education.
The PGI for States and Union Territories was issued for the first time in 2019 with reference to the fiscal year 2017-18. The third publication in this series is the PGI: States/UTs for 2019-20.
The PGI exercise 'envisages that the index would propel States and UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes,' as per official statement.
The PGI assists States/UTs in identifying gaps and prioritising areas for improvement to ensure that the school education system is robust at all levels.
Also Read [Modified Class 10 and 12 Exams After COVID Positivity Rate Reduces to 1%: Assam Education Minister Pegu]
Punjab, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Kerala have been assigned the highest grade (A++) for 2019-20, according to the statement, which further stated that Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu have improved their overall PGI score by 10%.
Thirteen states and UTs improved by 10% or more in the PGI domain for Infrastructure and Facilities. Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Odisha have both improved by at least 20%.
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Odisha have improved by more than 10% in the PGI domain for Equity.
"Nineteen States and UTs have shown improvement by 10% (36 points) or more in the PGI domain: Governance Process. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have shown improvement by at least 20 per cent (72 points or more)," it said according to the ANI.