The recent audit conducted by the Rajasthan government has revealed that as many as 611 government schools across the state are functioning without their own buildings. This alarming disclosure was made in the Legislative Assembly on August 22, 2026, responding to a question posed by the Leader of Opposition, Tika Ram Jully. The data, sourced from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), pertains to the academic year 2025-26 under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

The report indicated that a significant portion of these schools, including ten specifically for girls, is operating in inadequate conditions. The state government attributed these infrastructure deficiencies to the previous Congress-led administration under Ashok Gehlot, suggesting that the current BJP-led government is now working to rectify these shortcomings.

This revelation follows a worrying incident involving a team from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led by co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, who faced an attack while inspecting a school in Bagru, near Jaipur. The school in question was reportedly functioning from a cowshed after the original structure was deemed unsafe and closed in the previous year.

Schools Operating in Substandard Conditions

The situation of schools without proper infrastructure is exacerbated by wider issues related to school facilities throughout Rajasthan. Notably, Jaipur has 38 schools lacking buildings, while the Aklera block in Jhalawar has the highest number, with 23 such schools. Areas like Khanpur and Jhalrapatan report 16 and 11 schools without buildings, respectively, while Phalodi and Banswara have 11 and 10 schools functioning in similar conditions.

Furthermore, beyond the lack of actual school buildings, the audit unveiled deficiencies in basic amenities. Among the 64,484 government schools with buildings, over 2,000 lack toilet facilities, and approximately 1,049 do not provide access to drinking water. Specifically, Banswara has the greatest number of schools without toilet facilities, totalling 188, while Dausa has the highest number of schools without drinking water facilities, with 96 reported cases.

Government Response and Opposition Concerns

In light of these findings, the Rajasthan government has announced substantial funding to address the urgent needs of school infrastructure. They have allocated 550 crore Rs for repairs and renovation, alongside 450 crore Rs for constructing new buildings for those currently without proper facilities. The administration is also set to invest 2,500 crore Rs each year, totalling 12,500 crore Rs over the next five years to enhance school structures and address maintenance issues.

Despite these assurances, Tika Ram Jully, the Leader of Opposition, has expressed skepticism about the government’s preparedness to tackle the ongoing infrastructure crisis. He highlighted that 3,768 government schools have been classified as completely dilapidated, while 83,783 schoolrooms are considered unsafe for student use. Jully contends that a systematic plan is lacking and cited closures and relocations of schools due to poor conditions, which have adversely impacted student enrolment.

The Rajasthan High Court has also raised concerns about the state of school infrastructure, putting additional pressure on the government to prioritise improvements in educational facilities. The current administration maintains that upgrading school buildings, including essential amenities like toilets, is central to its agenda for reforming education in the state.

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