Lok Sabha Question No. 102 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Smart Class Rooms in Schools in Rural Areas
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 102 ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025

## Smart Class Rooms in Schools in Rural Areas

- †* 102 Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram:

Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking steps to introduce smart class rooms in schools in rural areas in the country particularly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has faced any hardships or identified hindrances in introducing such class rooms in the country including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan proposed by the  Government for mitigating/removing such difficulties and hindrances?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 102 FOR 28.07.2025 ASKED BY HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM AND SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI REGARDING SMART CLASS ROOMS IN SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS.

(a)  &  (b):  The  Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha  - an Integrated Scheme for School Education from 2018-19. It is an overarching programme envisaging the 'school' as a continuum from pre-school to Grade 12, running in the country including the rural areas. The vision of the scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.

Smart Classroom component of Samagra Shiksha covers Government and Aided schools having classes  VI  to  XII.  Under  this  component  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  States/UTs  including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli for establishing Smart Classrooms in schools which includes interactive Digital Board/display unit, Operating System (OS), LCD/LED/plasma screen, printer, scanner, laptops/tablets/desktops etc.

Financial Provisions: The non-recurring grant for Smart Classrooms (2 smart classrooms per school) is of  Rs.2.40  lakh  and  the  recurring  grant  is  Rs.38000/-  (including  E  Content  and  Digital  Resources, Charges for Electricity).

As per PRABANDH portal, a total of 1,46,040 Smart Classrooms have been approved across the country till 31.05.2025, including 5,155 in State of Maharashtra, 9,531 in State of Madhya Pradesh and 192 in UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

(c) & (d): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Central Government provides  funds  for  digital  initiatives  component  including  Smart  Classrooms  under  the  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education- Samagra Shiksha, on the basis of requirement communicated by them in the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). However, the States/UTs are free to provide additional funds as per their requirement.

The key challenges or limitation faced in implementing digital interventions such as Smart Class are of Capacity Building of teachers, Infrastructure setup, Uninterrupted internet connectivity etc.

Based on the UDISE+ data and funds approved in Project Approval Board's meetings (PAB) to Stats/UTs  for  the  year  2025-26,  there  were  gaps  identified  in  saturating  smart  classrooms  and  other components  in  Secondary  and  Senior  Secondary  Schools  in  States/UTs.  To  address  this  gap,  a supplementary  PAB  was  conducted  for  the  saturation  of  these  facilities  in  32  States/UTs,  including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The Government of India, as part of the Budget 2025, has announced provision of broadband connectivity  to  all  Government  secondary  schools  in  rural  areas  under  BharatNet  project  to  enhance digital infrastructure in remote areas.

The State/UT Governments have been advised to act based on the situation prevailing at every place to meet the demands of students and teachers for providing them with the digital access required for teaching learning digitally.

The National Education Policy 2020 calls for investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching platforms and tools, virtual labs, digital repositories, online assessments, technology and pedagogy for online teaching-learning etc., for which various initiatives have been taken. For school education, digital literacy programs to students, teachers and all stakeholders have been extended with necessary funding mechanisms under Samagra Shiksha for all States/UTs, in alignment with NEP 2020.