Overview
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on September 7, 2022, to upgrade over 14,500 existing schools across India into model schools that fully embody the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Unlike new school construction, PM-SHRI strengthens existing government schools — including those under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) — through infrastructure upgradation, pedagogical reform, and technology integration.
The scheme has a total project cost of ₹27,360 crore (Central share: ₹18,128 crore; State share: ₹9,232 crore) for the five-year period 2022-23 to 2026-27. The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹7,500 crore for PM-SHRI, an increase of ₹1,450 crore over BE 2024-25. As of 2025, 12,079 schools have been selected from 32 States/UTs across 4 phases.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Cabinet approval | September 7, 2022 |
| Duration | 2022-23 to 2026-27 (5 years) |
| Total cost | ₹27,360 crore |
| Central share | ₹18,128 crore |
| State share | ₹9,232 crore |
| Budget 2025-26 | ₹7,500 crore |
| Target schools | 14,500+ |
| Schools selected | 12,079 (across 4 phases from 32 States/UTs) |
| Funding pattern | 60:40 (Centre:State); 90:10 for NER/special category states |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
Schools Selected (Phase-wise Breakdown)
| Level | Schools Selected |
|---|---|
| Primary | 1,329 |
| Elementary | 3,340 |
| Secondary | 2,921 |
| Senior Secondary | 4,489 |
| Total | 12,079 |
Key Features
Green Schools Initiative:
- Solar panels and LED lighting
- Nutrition gardens with natural farming
- Waste management and plastic-free campuses
- Water conservation and rainwater harvesting
- Climate change hackathons and awareness generation
- Study of traditions and practices related to environmental protection
NEP 2020 Alignment:
- Pedagogy: Experiential, holistic, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred
- Focus on early childhood care and education including Balvatika and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)
- Local languages and mother tongue encouraged as medium of instruction
- Integration of vocational education with linkage to sector skill councils and local industry
- 100% PM-SHRI schools receive Science and Math kits
- Under RTE Act, beneficiary-oriented entitlements provided
School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF):
- Comprehensive evaluation tool with six domains aligned with NEP 2020 guidelines
- Specifies key performance indicators to measure qualitative and quantitative outcomes
- Regular quality evaluation at periodic intervals
- Ensures schools maintain desired standards of teaching, infrastructure, and learning outcomes
Implementation Structure:
- Implemented through the existing administrative structure for Samagra Shiksha, KVS, and NVS
- Convergence with existing schemes, PRIs/ULBs, and community participation for infrastructure upgradation
- Each PM-SHRI school receives a comprehensive upgrade plan covering infrastructure, pedagogy, and technology
Latest Developments
- Budget 2025-26 Boost: The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated Rs 7,500 crore for PM-SHRI, an increase of Rs 1,450 crore over BE 2024-25, reflecting the government’s commitment to scaling NEP 2020 implementation at the school level.
- 12,079 Schools Selected (4 Phases): As of 2025, 12,079 schools have been selected from 32 States/UTs across 4 phases — covering Primary (1,329), Elementary (3,340), Secondary (2,921), and Senior Secondary (4,489) levels.
- 7,500 Schools Upgraded: Approximately 7,500 schools have already been upgraded with infrastructure improvements, pedagogy reforms, and technology integration as per PM-SHRI standards.
- State-Level Replication — CM Shri Schools (Haryana): The Haryana government announced “CM Shri Schools” modelled on the PM-SHRI pattern, aiming to replicate the success of PM-SHRI at the state level — a sign of the scheme’s influence on state education policy.
- District-Level Funding Disbursement: In FY 2025-26, PM-SHRI allocated nearly Rs 4 crore to 27 selected schools in Palamu district, Jharkhand, for basic facilities, garden development, and creating a conducive learning environment.
- Green School Implementation: All PM-SHRI schools are being developed as Green Schools with solar panels, LED lighting, nutrition gardens, waste management systems, plastic-free campuses, and rainwater harvesting infrastructure.
- 100% Science and Math Kits: All PM-SHRI schools have received Science and Math kits to promote experiential and inquiry-based learning aligned with NEP 2020.
Prelims Importance
- PM-SHRI approved by Cabinet on September 7, 2022
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (not Central Sector)
- Total cost: ₹27,360 crore (Central: ₹18,128 crore; State: ₹9,232 crore)
- Funding ratio: 60:40 (Centre:State); 90:10 for NER and special category states
- Budget 2025-26 allocation: ₹7,500 crore (increased by ₹1,450 crore over previous year)
- Target: upgrade 14,500+ existing schools into NEP 2020 model schools
- 12,079 schools selected from 32 States/UTs across 4 phases
- Implemented through Samagra Shiksha, KVS, and NVS administrative structure
- PM-SHRI schools developed as Green Schools (solar panels, nutrition gardens, water harvesting)
- SQAF (School Quality Assessment Framework) for regular evaluation
- Schools cover all levels: Primary, Elementary, Secondary, Senior Secondary
- 100% PM-SHRI schools receive Science and Math kits
Mains & Interview Importance
GS2 — Education, Governance, Social Justice:
- Analyse PM-SHRI as the flagship implementation vehicle for NEP 2020 at the school level — how does it translate policy vision into ground reality?
- Discuss the Green Schools component as an example of integrating environmental consciousness into education infrastructure.
- Evaluate the SQAF framework — can standardised assessment tools improve school quality, or do they risk reducing education to measurable metrics?
GS2 — Federalism:
- The 60:40 funding pattern raises Centre-State coordination challenges — discuss how States have responded (some initially refused to sign MoUs).
- Compare PM-SHRI with the older Navodaya Vidyalaya and Kendriya Vidyalaya models — what is different about the approach?
Analytical Questions:
- “PM-SHRI upgrades existing schools rather than building new ones. Discuss the advantages and limitations of this approach for improving education quality in India.”
- “How does the PM-SHRI scheme operationalise the key recommendations of NEP 2020? Critically evaluate.”
- “Compare the PM-SHRI model with the Atal Tinkering Labs and CBSE reforms in promoting experiential learning.”
Interview Angle: “12,079 schools have been selected under PM-SHRI out of a target of 14,500, but India has over 14 lakh schools. Can a scheme covering barely 1% of schools create systemic change? What would you do differently?”