Lok Sabha Question No. 12 (STARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Smart Classrooms in Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Mani A

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 12 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Smart Classrooms in Schools

## *12 Shri Mani A:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has set any goals for the implementation of Smart Classrooms in schools across the country, if so, the time by which these are achieved;
- (b) whether the Government is according high priority for promotion of smart classrooms in schools all over the country;
- (c) if so, the number of smart classrooms that have been set up in the State of Tamil Nadu during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (d) the details of the fund allocated for this purpose and quantum of fund utilized;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  smart  class  system  in  all  the  classrooms  of  the schools; and
- (f) if so, the details of the target set for this purpose and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  12  FOR  25.11.2024  ASKED  BY  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF PARLIAMENT SHRI MANI A REGARDING SMART CLASSROOMS IN SCHOOLS

(a) to (d): 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 for the school  education  sector  extending  from  pre-school  to  class  XII  and  aims  to  ensure  inclusive  and equitable  quality  education  at  all  levels  of  school  education.  Samagra  Shiksha  is  implemented  in partnership with all the States and UTs and financial assistance is provided for various components including Smart Classrooms. Till date, 1,30,536 smart classrooms are sanctioned to States/UTs.

The physical and financial details of smart classrooms approved and functional in the State of Tamil Nadu during each of the last three years and in the current year are as under: -

| Year    |   No.of Smart Classrooms Approved |   No.of Smart Classrooms Functional |   Amount Approved (Rs. in lakh) |   Expenditure Amount (Rs. in lakh) |
|---------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 2021-22 |                               865 |                                   1 |                          2076   |                                  0 |
| 2022-23 |                                 0 |                                 860 |                             0   |                               2076 |
| 2023-24 |                                 0 |                                   4 |                             0   |                                  0 |
| 2024-25 |                              6284 |                                   0 |                         14995.5 |                                  0 |

Source: PRABANDH

(e) & (f): Smart  classroom  component  of  Samagra  Shiksha  covers  Government  and  Aided schools  having  classes  VI  to  XII.  Under  this  component  financial  assistance  is  provided  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:

Smart classrooms: The non-recurring grant for Smart Class rooms (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).

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 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for  School  Education-  Samagra  Shiksha,  on  the  basis  of  proposals  received  from  State/UT Governments. However, the States/UTs are free to provide additional funds as per their requirement.