PM-SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India)

Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched on September 7, 2022, by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The scheme is designed to upgrade and develop more than 14,500 existing schools across the country into model institutions. Over a five-year implementation period extending from financial year 2022–23 to 2026–27, these schools serve as direct labs to showcase the comprehensive components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Managed by various governing tiers—including the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territory (UT) administrations, and local bodies—the ultimate objective of the initiative is to qualitatively strengthen public education and offer institutional mentorship to neighboring schools.

Key Administrative Framework and Financial Outlay

The operationality of PM-SHRI depends on distinct financial shares and multi-level administrative structures that dictate how funds are channeled and utilized across the country.

Total Project Outlay and Funding Ratios

The programmatic lifecycle spanning from 2022-23 to 2026-27 carries an aggregated budgetary allocation of ₹27,360 crore, out of which the central government’s dedicated fiscal contribution stands at ₹18,128 crore. The fund sharing pattern is split systematically according to regional typography:

• General Category States and UTs with Legislature: 60:40 ratio divided between the Center and the respective State or UT.
• Northeastern States, Himalayan States, and Jammu & Kashmir: 90:10 ratio divided between the Center and the State.
• Union Territories without Legislature: 100% financed by the Central Government.

Institutional Implementers and Management

The target institutions encompass existing premier administrative clusters alongside basic state-run schools. The beneficiaries specifically include:

• Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs)
• Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS)
• Schools run directly by State Governments or Municipal Corporations
• Schools administered by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

The Three-Stage Selection Methodology: Challenge Mode

Schools do not get automated entry into the PM-SHRI scheme; instead, selection occurs through an online self-application portal operating under a rigid “Challenge Mode” framework.

Stage 1: State-Level Commitment

States or Union Territories must first execute a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education. This MoU binds the state to fully implement the core tenets of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 within its administrative jurisdiction.

Stage 2: Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+) Filtering

A foundational pool of eligible schools is identified automatically using verified datasets from the UDISE+ platform. To cross this stage, schools must clear pre-determined structural and institutional benchmarks, such as minimum enrollment numbers and baseline infrastructural facilities.

Stage 3: Competitive Challenge Evaluation

The filtered schools enter a competitive round against physical criteria. The conditions require schools to score on indicators like safety parameters, baseline technology, and community satisfaction. The physical fulfillment of these challenges undergoes inspection and certification by respective State authorities, KVS, or NVS, before an Expert Committee makes the final selection. A maximum of two schools (one elementary and one secondary/senior secondary) are selected per block under this approach.

Core Structural Pillars and Quality Benchmarks

PM-SHRI institutions are developed around six operational pillars that translate the abstract ideals of NEP 2020 into measurable classroom outputs.

Six Pillars of PM-SHRI Architecture

• Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment: Transitioning from rote-learning systems to experiential, play-based, inquiry-driven, and learner-centered modules, especially utilizing tools like the “Jaadui Pitara” for foundational years.
• Infrastructure adequacy and Aesthetics: Upgrading physical space to act as a “Building as Learning Aid” (BaLa) while adding functional, child-friendly assets.
• Human Resources and Inclusive Practices: Ensuring trained faculty availability, regular career counseling, and barrier-free access for children with special needs (CwSN).
• Gender and Vulnerable Groups Equity: Eliminating educational gaps for disadvantaged societal strata through targeted institutional care.
• Management, Monitoring, and Community Engagement: Involving local corporate structures, school management committees, and civic clusters to manage local accountability.
• Beneficiary Tracking and Skill Integration: Registering each child with a unique institutional ID to map learning curves while linking secondary students with Sector Skill Councils and local industries to improve real-world employability.

Green School Interventions

PM-SHRI emphasizes environmental sustainability and ecological responsibility. Selected schools must satisfy specific eco-friendly benchmarks outlined below:

Monitoring and Quality Assurance Frameworks

To maintain high learning standard thresholds and real-time operational compliance, the Ministry of Education has deployed multiple digital and analytical tools.

School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF)

Developed under the explicit recommendations of NEP 2020, the SQAF evaluates the proficiency level achieved by every PM-SHRI school. A dedicated committee operating under the respective District Collector conducts routine evaluations of school performance against set competency metrics to certify them as “exemplar” institutions.

PRABANDH and Capture Portals

Financial tracking and physical milestones are monitored transparently via the Project Appraisal, Budgeting, Achievements and Data Handling (PRABANDH) Portal. Simultaneously, the dedicated PM-SHRI activities portal captures student-level qualitative indicators, component-wise saturation rates, and infrastructure readiness timelines dynamically from the school premises.

Current Progress and Federal Friction

Statistical Implementation Status

As of recent updates, out of the targeted 14,500 institutions, 13,091 schools have been officially selected and saturated with modern learning tools across 34 States and UTs. This network covers over 20 lakh direct student beneficiaries, leading to measurable increases in public school enrollment indicators.

Center-State Geopolitical Friction

Because the scheme requires an explicit MoU regarding full NEP 2020 compliance, it has faced resistance from certain opposition-led states. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are the notable states that have abstained from signing the MoU. As a result of this non-compliance, the Central Government withheld financial disbursements under the broader Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to these non-participating states, making the scheme a focal point of federal educational debates.