Efficiency in Elementary Education in Urban India: An exploratory Analysis using DEA

Increasing literacy in the Indian states is possible by increasing enrolments in elementary education. This study explores the later by primary and upper primary enrollments for nineteen major Indian states for the year 2012-13. Using a non-parametric approach, namely DEA, the results for urban primary and upper primary enrolments indicate that many of the states may be able to improve efficiency of input usage or maximize enrolments more efficiently provided that an adequate infrastructure could be expanded which keeps pace with rising population growths in the states. In rural areas an additional supportive input, namely, electricity supply for villages may also help in enhancing the objective of increasing elementary education in the states.