Context
Recently, the Union Ministry of Education reminded West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu to implement the PM SHRI scheme, as 34 other States and UTs have already adopted the initiative and the five-year programme has entered its third year.
1. Inter-State Cooperation in Education: The PM SHRI Implementation Push
I. Current Status of Implementation
- West Bengal: The state is yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) required for the scheme, despite receiving 11 letters from the Centre since 2022.
- Kerala: As of November 12, 2025, the state government has kept the MoU in abeyance while a committee examines specific implementation concerns.
- Tamil Nadu: Although the state provided an undertaking to introduce the scheme for the 2024-25 academic session, the process remains incomplete despite 12 official requests from the Union Government.
II. Implications of the Delay
- Hindered NEP Goals: The delay affects the intended strengthening of the education system through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework.
- Time Constraints: Launched in September 2022 as a five-year initiative, the Ministry has warned that only a limited duration is left to complete the selection and development of these schools.
2. About PM SHRI Scheme
The PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at creating “exemplary schools” that showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
I. Key Features
- Objective: To transform more than 14,500 schools across the country into high-quality educational institutions.
- Green Schools: These institutions are developed as “Green Schools,” incorporating environment-friendly aspects like solar panels, LED lights, natural farming, and waste management.
- Facilities: They have best-in-class modern facilities, including Smart Classrooms, Computer Labs, Integrated Science Labs, Vocational Labs/Skill Labs, and Atal Tinkering Labs.
- Mentorship: PM SHRI schools are intended to provide leadership to other schools in their respective regions by providing mentorship and sharing best practices.
- Schools Eligible Under PM SHRI Scheme:
- Schools run by Central Governments, State Governments, Union Territories, and local bodies are eligible.
- All non-project Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan schools and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti schools operating from permanent buildings are also eligible.
II. Governance and Funding
- Nature: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, meaning the cost is shared between the Central and State/UT governments.
- Funding:
- The funding pattern is 60:40 between Centre and State Governments and UTs with legislature (except J&K).
- The sharing pattern is 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States and UT of J&K and 100% central funding for the Union Territories without legislature.
- Duration: Initially planned as a five-year initiative starting from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
The NEP 2020 envisions transforming India into a global knowledge hub and represents the third major overhaul of the education system since Independence, after the policies of 1968 and 1986.
Key Features:
- Restructuring Schooling (5+3+3+4): The policy replaces the old 10+2 structure with a new pedagogical and curricular structure consisting of the Foundational (ages 3-8), Preparatory (8-11), Middle (11-14), and Secondary (14-18) stages.
- Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: A top priority is ensuring that every child achieves basic reading and math skills by Grade 3, recognizing these as the “prerequisites for all future learning.”
- Multilingualism and Mother Tongue: The NEP advocates for the medium of instruction to be in the home language, mother tongue, or local/regional language at least until Grade 5, and preferably until Grade 8.
- Holistic and Multidisciplinary Higher Education: It introduces a flexible four-year undergraduate program with multiple entry and exit points (certificate after 1 year, diploma after 2, etc.) and moves away from rigid silos between “Arts,” “Sciences,” and “Commerce.”
Consider the following statements regarding the PM SHRI Scheme:
1. PM SHRI schools are developed in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
2. The scheme provides 100% central funding to all States and Union Territories.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: PM SHRI aims to create model schools aligned with NEP 2020.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Funding is shared in different ratios depending on the category of State/UT.
