India Had 50 Million Schoolchildren Without Sanitation in 2025: WHO/UNICEF Report
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Education policy· Prelims + Mains·
Sanitation and educational equity: a key GS2 Social Justice and Public Health issue.
Why in news
A WHO/UNICEF report released on September 23, 2026, highlighted that India had 50 million schoolchildren without sanitation services in 2025.
Background
The report states that India had the highest number of schoolchildren without sanitation services globally in 2025, totaling 50 million out of 244 million globally. It noted a 14% reduction in schools lacking such facilities since the Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014.
Facts for Prelims
- FactIndia had 50 million schoolchildren without sanitation services in 2025.
- FactGlobally, 362 million children lacked hygiene services at school, including 20 million from India.
- FactOnly 12 million children in India lacked access to basic drinking water.
- SchemeSwachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014.
- BodyWHO and UNICEF published the report on September 23, 2026.
Prelims practice question
Which mission's launch in 2014 contributed to a 14% reduction in Indian schools lacking sanitation services?
- (a)Swachh Bharat Mission
- (b)Jal Jeevan Mission
- (c)Ayushman Bharat
- (d)Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Show answer
Answer: (a) Swachh Bharat Mission — The report notes a 14% reduction in schools lacking sanitation since the Swachh Bharat Mission's launch in 2014.
For Mains
Q. Examine the persistent rural-urban disparities in school sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in India despite the progress made under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Infrastructure gap: Disparity in sanitation facility availability between rural and urban school clusters
- Data-driven monitoring: Need for granular tracking of hygiene services beyond basic drinking water coverage
Keywords: Rural-urban disparity · Sanitation infrastructure · Public health · Swachh Bharat Mission · Educational equity
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.