Overview

• Madhya Pradesh Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh admitted knowing of 500 government teachers who hire substitutes to work in their place, including 100 in his own district.
• The substitutes are reportedly paid between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, raising concerns about systemic issues in the state's education sector.
• The opposition Congress party has criticized the minister for failing to take action against these teachers, calling for his resignation or intervention from higher authorities.
• The revelation comes as government school enrollment in Madhya Pradesh has dropped by 1.22 million students since 2016-17, despite an 80% increase in education spending during the same period.
• Minister Singh defended his approach, stating the focus is on reforming the system rather than punishing teachers, though critics demand greater accountability.