51% of India's 5-yr-olds in Class 1 instead of preschool: UNESCO

UNESCO's 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report revealed that 51% of India's 5-year-olds are enrolled in primary school (Class 1) instead of receiving pre-primary education. The share of children under six enrolled in primary school rose from around 35% in 2019 to 60% in 2022. Notably, the NEP 2020 framework provides for three years of preschool education before Class 1.