What is School Closure and Merger in UDISE Plus?

When a school stops working permanently, it is called a school closure. When two or more schools are combined into one, it is called a school merger. You must officially report both of these changes in the UDISE+ system so that government records stay accurate.

In UDISE Plus, the District Education Officers change a school's status from "Active" to "Closed" or "Merged" through the School Directory Module - not the school itself.

Why Reporting Closure/Merger is Important

• Stops wrongful grants: A closed school should not continue receiving government grants. Proper closure records stop this.
• Protects student records: You must transfer students\' APAAR IDs and academic history correctly to their new schools.
• Teacher service records: You must update teachers\' PEN records with new posting details.
• National data accuracy: UDISE+ reports count total active schools. The system must remove closed schools from the active count.
• Legal compliance: Government audits and education department inspections require accurate school status records.

Types of School Status Changes

Status Change	Meaning	Who Does It
Active → Closed	School is permanently shut down	District Education Officer
Active → Merged	School joined with another school	District Education Officer
Closed → Active	The district reopens a closed school	District Education Officer
Merged → Active	The state separates a merged school again	State Education Department
New School	New school gets UDISE code	District MIS Officer

How to Report School Closure in UDISE Plus

The District Education Officer or District MIS Officer performs this process:

1. Login to School Directory Module at udiseplus.gov.in/ud/ with district credentials
2. Search for the school using its UDISE code
3. Open the school's directory record
4. Look for "Update Status" or "School Status Change"
5. Select "Closed" as the new status
6. Enter the closure date (date from which school stopped operating)
7. Enter the reason for closure (low enrollment, building unsafe, government order)
8. Upload the closure order document
9. Click Save/Submit

How to Report School Merger in UDISE Plus

1. Login with District level credentials
2. Search for the school to be merged (the one being closed)
3. Select "Merged" as the new status
4. Enter the UDISE code of the receiving school (the one that continues operating)
5. Enter the merger date
6. Upload the merger order from the government
7. Click Submit
8. The receiving school's enrollment will automatically update to include the merged students

What Happens to Student Data After Merger

1. Students of the merged school transfer to the receiving school
2. Their APAAR IDs remain the same - they don\'t change
3. In SDMS, the receiving school adds these students with a new EP entry (Enrollment Profile) for their school
4. The student\'s GP (General Profile) data remains unchanged
5. Students continue their academic history without any break

What Happens to Teacher Data After Merger

• The department transfers teachers to the receiving school or other nearby schools
• In the Teacher Module, you must update their posting to the new school\'s UDISE code
• Their PEN number remains the same
• The system preserves their complete service history - the transfer is just a new entry in their posting history
• Salary and benefits continue without interruption through proper transfer order

Common Questions About School Closures

Q: Our school building is under repair - are we "closed"?
No. A school under temporary repair is still "Active". Closure means permanently stopping school operations, not temporary building work. Students may shift to another building temporarily but the school remains active.

Q: Our school's enrollment dropped to 5 students. Can we report closure ourselves?
No. The school itself cannot close. If enrollment is very low, you should report this to your Block and District Education Office. They will decide whether to close, merge, or provide support to increase enrollment.

Q: What if the district reopens a school that was closed for 2 years - will students' data come back?
The District Education Officer can reactivate the school's UDISE code. The SDMS system will still retain students' previous data (from before closure) under their APAAR IDs. You will enter fresh new students admitted after reopening.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most common questions people ask about UDISE Plus School Closures & Mergers 2026-27 – Complete Reporting Guide.

1. Can a school close itself in UDISE Plus?

No. A school cannot mark itself as "Closed" in UDISE+. The school closure process must go through the Block and District Education Office. The District MIS Officer or District Education Officer marks a school as closed in the School Directory module.

2. What happens to a closed school's UDISE code?

The government does not reuse the UDISE code of a closed school. The system marks the school as "Closed" in the directory with the closure date, but the code remains in the system for historical records. The government will not give the same code to a new school.

3. What happens to students of a closed school?

The department transfers students of a closed school to nearby schools. Before the district marks the school as closed in UDISE+, you must transfer all students to their new schools in SDMS. The new school adds these students with their existing APAAR IDs.

4. What is school merger in UDISE Plus?

School merger happens when two or more schools are combined into one. The government closes one school (usually the weaker one) and transfers its students and teachers to the other school. The merged school's UDISE code becomes inactive.

5. What documents are needed to report school closure?

You need: District Education Officer's closure order, Reason for closure (low enrollment, building condition, etc.), Date of closure, Details of alternative schools where students are being transferred.

6. What if a closed school has been reopened - how to update UDISE?

The district reopens a closed school through a District-level process. The District MIS Officer changes the school status from "Closed" back to "Active" in the School Directory module, with the reopening date and supporting order from the education department.

7. How does UDISE track schools that merged?

In the School Directory, the system updates the merged school's record to show "Merged with [UDISE code of receiving school]" and the merger date. The receiving school's UDISE code remains active and its enrollment increases with the merged students.

8. What happens to teachers of a merged school?

The department transfers (posts) teachers to the receiving school or other nearby schools. In the UDISE+ Teacher Module, you must update their posting to the new school's UDISE code. Their PEN number remains the same - only the current school changes.

9. Will a school merger affect UDISE Plus grant calculations?

Yes. After merger, the receiving school's enrollment increases, which may increase their Composite School Grant and other resource allocations. The closed school stops receiving grants from the closure date.

10. What is the minimum enrollment rule for school closure?

As per government guidelines, schools with very low enrollment (typically below 20-30 students) over multiple years may be considered for closure or merger. The exact threshold varies by state. The decision is made by the District Education Committee, not the school itself.