Lok Sabha Question No. 646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Infrastructure of Government Schools in India
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.646

ANSWERED ON 06/02/2023

## Infrastructure of Government Schools in India

646. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  data  regarding  the  number  of  Government  schools  in  the country, which have access to internet connections and smart-classes, State-wise;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, UT-wise and district-wise especially at Saran in Bihar;
- (c)  the  number  of  students  per  computer  and  the  number  of  science  lab  facilities  in Government schools, State-wise, UT-wise and district-wise especially at Saran in Bihar;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government and to ensure universal internet connectivity in public schools in India; and
- (e) the estimated time period by which this goal is likely to be achieved?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) & (b):  The details of Government Schools having internet connections and smart classes State / UT wise are at Annexure -1 (may be accessed at link: https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques ).  The  district  wise  details  of  Government  Schools which have internet connections and smart classes in the State of Bihar including Saran are at Annexure-2 (may be accessed at link: https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques ).
- (c):    Education  is  in  the  Concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  school  are under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. The Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  with  effect  from  2018-19  has  launched  an Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education- Samagra Shiksha. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for undertaking various activities for  universalisation  of  school  education  including  setting  up  of  ICT  Labs  and  Smart  Class rooms.

The ICT and Digital Initiatives component of Samagra Shiksha covers Government Schools having classes VI to XII. The provisions regarding the same are as under:

## A. Budgetary provisions

The non- recurring/recurring grant under 'ICT and Digital Initiatives' for schools is available to the States and UTs for following two options:

Option I: Under this option schools which have not availed the ICT facility earlier can either opt for ICT or smart classrooms as per their requirement and need. In case of more than 700 enrolments, an additional ICT lab can also be considered.

Option II: Under this option schools which have already availed the ICT facility earlier can avail smart classrooms/tablets as per the norms of the scheme.

## B. Financial provisions

ICT Lab: A non-recurring grant of up to Rs. 6.40 lakh per school and recurring grant of upto Rs. 2.40 lakh per school per annum for a period of 5 years.

From  2023-24,  the  scheme  also  offers  step-wise  funding  based  on  school  enrolment. (Strength < 100   Rs. 2.5 Lakhs, Strength between 100 - 250 Rs. 4.5 Lakhs, Strength between 250 - 700 Rs. 6.4 Lakhs)

Smart Classrooms: The non-recurring grant for Smart Class rooms is of Rs. 2.40 lakh and the recurring grant is Rs. 0.38 lakh

The details of Science Lab facilities in Government Schools State / UT wise are shown at Annexure - 3 (may be accessed at link: https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques ) . The district wise details of Science Labs in Govt. Schools in Bihar State including Saran are shown at Annexure - 4 (may be accessed at link: https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques ) .

(d)  &  (e):  An  advisory  has  been  issued  by  the  Dept.  of  School  Education  and  Literary, Government of India to all the States and UTs to enter into an MoU / Agreement with BSNL and provide FTTH Internet connection to all the Government Schools which have computing devices.  States  /  UTs  have  been  advised  that  the  Internet  Charges  can  be  met  from  the following:

- For  ICT  Labs  /  Smart  Class  rooms  sanctioned  under  Samagra  Shiksha,  internet charges can be met from the recurring charges being released under Samagra Shiksha.
- For  Schools  in  which  ICT/  Smart  Class  room  are  not  sanctioned  under  Samagra Shiksha  and  which  have  computing  devices,  internet charges can be met  from  the Management  Monitoring  Evaluation  and  Research  (MMER)  funds  being  released  under Samagra Shiksha or can be met from any other State/UT Govt. funds.

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