ASER Centre

When ordinary people are empowered with knowledge, they can bring about extraordinary change. 

Measurement should be rigorous, but also easy to do, understand, and act upon. And when ordinary people learn to measure what affects their lives,  they can communicate with each other across boundaries to identify their problems, take steps to resolve them, and change the world for the better. With this vision, ASER Centre was established as an independent research unit within the Pratham network in 2008. We employ rigorous methods to generate large-scale evidence on the impact of social sector programs and policies, primarily focusing on education. 

ASER Centre undertakes research studies, impact evaluations, and the development of innovative assessment tools. We also design and facilitate capacity-building workshops to build a culture of data-driven decision-making. At ASER, our mission is to bridge the gap between evidence and action. Notably, we conduct the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey—the largest citizen-led assessment that captures enrollment and learning levels in rural India. In 2022, ASER survey reached 699,597 children between the ages of 3 and 16. About 30,000 volunteers from 591 partner organizations participated in the data collection, visiting 19,060 villages in 616 districts of the country. ASER has also conducted research in partnership with reputed universities both across the globe as well as in India, such as Ambedkar University Delhi, the University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Leeds, and others. 

Over the years, ASER’s work and data has been widely discussed in the media, cited in government policy documents, and quoted in 105 parliamentary questions. It has also found space in research reports by internationally reputed organizations like the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, and UIS, among others.

Your support helps us ensure that policies shaping our society are informed by robust, data-driven research. Donate today to promote evidence-based insights that make real change possible.