UDISE Code: What It Is and How It Differs from NIC-SD
Every school in India has a UDISE code. In Rajasthan, schools also have an NIC-SD code on Shala Darpan. Here is the difference.
Written by Gautami Bandopadhyay, founder of Shala Darpan Guide.
What is UDISE?
UDISE stands for Unified District Information System for Education. It is a national code system run by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Every school in the country, whether government, private, or unaided, gets a UDISE code once it is recognized by the state education department.
The code is 11 digits long. The first two digits represent the state, the next two represent the district, the next two represent the block or city, and the remaining five identify the specific school. So a UDISE code like 08141200301 tells you the school is in Rajasthan (08), in a particular district (14), within a block (12), and is school number 00301 in that area.
India moved to UDISE in 2011-12, replacing an older system called DISE (District Information System for Education) that covered only government schools. UDISE expanded coverage to include private schools as well. The current upgraded version is called UDISE+, which added online data submission and better verification tools for schools and state authorities.
UDISE data feeds into national education statistics. When the government publishes school counts, enrollment numbers, or infrastructure data in reports like the Educational Statistics at a Glance, the numbers come from UDISE. The code is used in national-level reports, inter-state comparisons, and planning by the Ministry of Education.
Each year, schools are required to update their UDISE data, including enrollment figures, teacher counts, and building details. The data collection usually runs from August to November. Schools that do not update their data may find their UDISE record marked as stale, which can cause problems when applying for grants or appearing in government reports.
How UDISE codes differ from NIC-SD codes
In Rajasthan, schools carry two separate identification numbers. The UDISE code is the national identifier. The NIC-SD code is the state-level identifier used on the Shala Darpan portal. These two codes are not interchangeable, and they serve different systems.
The NIC-SD code was created by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) specifically for Rajasthan's Shala Darpan portal. It is shorter than the UDISE code (typically 6 to 10 digits) and is used for all operations within the Shala Darpan system, including results, transfers, staff records, and school profiles. Shala Darpan does not use UDISE codes as its primary identifier.
A common source of confusion is that both codes point to the same school, but they live in different systems. If you use a UDISE code where the system expects an NIC-SD code, it will not work. The same goes the other way around. You need to know which code the portal or form is asking for before you enter it.
| Feature | UDISE Code | NIC-SD Code |
|---|---|---|
| Managed by | Ministry of Education (national) | NIC Rajasthan (state) |
| Coverage | All schools in India | Rajasthan schools only |
| Digits | 11 | Varies (6-10) |
| Format | State(2) + District(2) + Block(2) + School(5) | Shorter, portal-specific |
| Used for | National reports, statistics, grants | Results, school search, staff records, transfers |
| Found on | UDISE portal, school recognition certificate | Shala Darpan, school records |
| Can you search by it? | Yes, on udiseplus.gov.in | Yes, on Citizen Window |
When you need each code
The code you need depends entirely on which system or form you are using. Here are the common situations.
Code selection guide
I need to check results on Shala Darpan
Use the NIC-SD code. Results on Shala Darpan are indexed by NIC-SD code, not UDISE. If you enter a UDISE code, the system will not find your school.
I am filling a national form (SSA, PM SHRI, or UDISE data submission)
Use the UDISE code. National-level forms and reports under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, PM SHRI schools scheme, and UDISE annual data collection all use UDISE codes.
I am searching for a school on Shala Darpan
On Shala Darpan, search by NIC-SD code. On the UDISE Plus portal (udiseplus.gov.in), search by UDISE code. The two portals use different identifiers for the same school.
I am a new school applying for registration
You will get both codes. The UDISE code comes from the Ministry of Education through the state level office after your school is recognized. The NIC-SD code is generated by the Shala Darpan portal when your school is added to the Rajasthan system. The UDISE code usually arrives later than the NIC-SD code.
I need to apply for a grant or funding
Check which system manages the grant. Most centrally sponsored schemes use UDISE codes. Rajasthan state-level schemes may ask for the NIC-SD code. When in doubt, have both codes ready.
I am a teacher transferring to a new school
Transfer orders on Shala Darpan use NIC-SD codes. Your old and new school will both be identified by their NIC-SD codes in the transfer system.
Where to find your school's UDISE code
- The UDISE code is printed on the school's recognition certificate issued by the education department. This is the most reliable source.
- Ask your school head or principal. They keep it in the school files along with other registration documents.
- Search on the UDISE Plus portal (udiseplus.gov.in). You can search by school name and district, and the portal will show the UDISE code along with other school details.
- Check the school search on Shala Darpan. Some entries show the UDISE code alongside the NIC-SD code, especially for government schools.
- Contact your district education office (DEO). They maintain a list of UDISE codes for all schools in the district.
Where to find your school's NIC-SD code
- Log in to the Shala Darpan portal. The NIC-SD code appears on the school dashboard and in school profile sections.
- Use the Citizen Window on Shala Darpan to search for your school by name. The results show the NIC-SD code.
- Check your school's result pages. The NIC-SD code is part of the URL when you view results for a specific school.
- Ask your school's data entry operator. They use the NIC-SD code regularly for portal operations.
Do private schools have UDISE codes?
Yes. Every recognized school in India has a UDISE code, including private and unaided schools. The UDISE system does not distinguish between government and private schools at the code level. A private school's UDISE code follows the same 11-digit format and carries the same state, district, and block information as a government school's code.
The difference shows up on Shala Darpan. Private schools in Rajasthan use a PSP (Private School Portal) code within the Shala Darpan system instead of the standard NIC-SD code that government schools use. This means a private school may have three identification numbers: a UDISE code for national purposes, a PSP code for Shala Darpan operations, and in some cases an NIC-SD code that was generated when the school was first added to the system.
For checking results, applying through the portal, or accessing school data on Shala Darpan, private schools need their PSP code. For national-level reporting and government scheme applications, they use the UDISE code. See our Shala Darpan vs RajPSP comparison for more detail on how private school codes work.
One practical issue: private schools sometimes find that their UDISE data is outdated because they did not participate in the annual UDISE data update. This can cause mismatches between their UDISE record and their actual school details. If this happens, the school should contact the district education office to get the UDISE data corrected.
Common confusions and how to solve them
- "My UDISE code does not work on Shala Darpan." This is expected. Shala Darpan uses NIC-SD codes, not UDISE codes. Look up your NIC-SD code on the portal or in your school records.
- "My school has two different codes and I do not know which is which." If one code is 11 digits, that is the UDISE code. The shorter one is the NIC-SD code. If both are shorter, one may be the PSP code for private schools.
- "I cannot find my school on the UDISE portal." The school may not have been updated in UDISE recently, or the name may be listed differently. Try searching by district and block instead of by name. You can also contact the district education office.
- "My UDISE data shows wrong enrollment numbers." UDISE data is updated annually. If last year's numbers are wrong, the school needs to submit a correction through the state-level UDISE coordinator. This cannot be fixed on the portal directly.
- "I am a parent and I need the school's code." Ask the school office directly. Most schools can provide both codes. If the school is unwilling, you can find the UDISE code on udiseplus.gov.in by searching the school name and district.