The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), conducted the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E) in its 80th round during April–June 2025. The survey focused on household expenditure on school education, including private coaching, across rural and urban India.
The findings provide detailed estimates of per-student expenditure, disaggregated by gender, type of school, and level of enrolment. The report reveals both overall and item-wise differences in education spending for boys and girls.
Average expenditure per student in rural and urban India
According to the survey, the average expenditure per student on school education was Rs 9,033 for boys and Rs 7,660 for girls in rural areas. In urban areas, boys' average expenditure stood at Rs 24,788 compared to Rs 21,997 for girls. The combined rural and urban average was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for girls.
Average expenditure per student on school education by gender (Rs )
Expenditure by level of enrolment
The NSS 2025 report shows that expenditure rises with higher levels of schooling. In rural areas, boys' expenditure at the higher secondary level was Rs 16,850 compared to Rs 13,840 for girls. In urban areas, higher secondary expenditure was Rs 32,615 for boys and Rs 25,376 for girls. Across rural and urban India, the averages stood at Rs 22,300 for boys and Rs 17,683 for girls.
Type of school and expenditure differences
By type of school, rural government schools recorded an average expenditure of Rs 2,705 for boys and Rs 2,570 for girls. In private unaided (recognised) schools, the rural average was Rs 23,511 for boys and Rs 22,036 for girls. In urban India, boys' average expenditure in private unaided schools was Rs 36,390, while girls' was Rs 34,973. The combined average for all types of schools was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for girls.
Item-wise expenditure
The survey also examined the expenditure components of school education. In rural areas, the course fee expenditure per student was Rs 4,420 for boys and Rs 3,489 for girls. In urban areas, boys spent Rs 16,283 on course fees, compared to Rs 13,873 for girls. Across India, boys' average course fee expenditure was Rs 7,761, while girls' was Rs 6,390.
Other expenditure components showed similar patterns:
Private coaching expenditure
The NSS 2025 survey reported that the average expenditure on private coaching was also higher for boys. At the all-India level, boys spent Rs 2,572 on private coaching per student, while girls spent Rs 2,227. In rural areas, boys spent Rs 1,861 and girls Rs 1,717. In urban areas, boys' expenditure was Rs 4,387 compared to Rs 3,542 for girls.
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The findings provide detailed estimates of per-student expenditure, disaggregated by gender, type of school, and level of enrolment. The report reveals both overall and item-wise differences in education spending for boys and girls.
Average expenditure per student in rural and urban India
According to the survey, the average expenditure per student on school education was Rs 9,033 for boys and Rs 7,660 for girls in rural areas. In urban areas, boys' average expenditure stood at Rs 24,788 compared to Rs 21,997 for girls. The combined rural and urban average was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for girls.
Average expenditure per student on school education by gender (Rs )
Expenditure by level of enrolment
The NSS 2025 report shows that expenditure rises with higher levels of schooling. In rural areas, boys' expenditure at the higher secondary level was Rs 16,850 compared to Rs 13,840 for girls. In urban areas, higher secondary expenditure was Rs 32,615 for boys and Rs 25,376 for girls. Across rural and urban India, the averages stood at Rs 22,300 for boys and Rs 17,683 for girls.
Type of school and expenditure differences
By type of school, rural government schools recorded an average expenditure of Rs 2,705 for boys and Rs 2,570 for girls. In private unaided (recognised) schools, the rural average was Rs 23,511 for boys and Rs 22,036 for girls. In urban India, boys' average expenditure in private unaided schools was Rs 36,390, while girls' was Rs 34,973. The combined average for all types of schools was Rs 13,470 for boys and Rs 11,666 for girls.
Item-wise expenditure
The survey also examined the expenditure components of school education. In rural areas, the course fee expenditure per student was Rs 4,420 for boys and Rs 3,489 for girls. In urban areas, boys spent Rs 16,283 on course fees, compared to Rs 13,873 for girls. Across India, boys' average course fee expenditure was Rs 7,761, while girls' was Rs 6,390.
Other expenditure components showed similar patterns:
Private coaching expenditure
The NSS 2025 survey reported that the average expenditure on private coaching was also higher for boys. At the all-India level, boys spent Rs 2,572 on private coaching per student, while girls spent Rs 2,227. In rural areas, boys spent Rs 1,861 and girls Rs 1,717. In urban areas, boys' expenditure was Rs 4,387 compared to Rs 3,542 for girls.
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