Lok Sabha Question No. 207 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Timely Release of Funds to Government Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO - 207

## ANSWERED ON 15/12/2025

## Timely Release of Funds to Government Schools

*207. Shri K Radhakrishnan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  Government  and  Government-aided  schools  that  have  been  shut  down  in  the country during the last five years and the reasons for such closures, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of the pending funds due to be released by the Central Government to all States including Kerala under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan/Samagra Shiksha scheme during the last three years, State/UT and year-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any special measures to ensure timely release of funds to prevent further closures of schools, especially in rural, tribal and educationally backward regions; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A)  TO  (D)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  207  ANSWERED  ON  15/12/2025  ASKED  BY  HONB'LE  MP SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN  REGARDING  'TIMELY  RELEASE  OF FUNDS TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS'

(a)  to  (d):  Education  is  in  the  Concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  the  opening,  closing  and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and  UT Administration. As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus), State/UTwise number of Government and Government Aided schools, as reported by them from the year 202021 to 2024-25, are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques .

The  Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy  is  implementing  the  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha  in  partnership  with  all  the  States  and  UTs.  Financial  assistance  is provided to all States and UTs for various components for implementation of the interventions under Samagra Shiksha as per norms. Accordingly, the annual plans under Samagra Shiksha are prepared by the  States  and  UTs  based  on  their  requirements  and  priority  and  this  is  reflected  in  their  respective Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved/estimated by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial  norms  of  the  scheme.  The  release  of  Central  share  depends  on  the  submission  of  the utilisation certificates, audit reports in respect of funds released earlier, physical and financial progress reports, State contributions and compliance with the scheme norms and adherence to the provisions of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

State/UT-wise details of Central Share approved by the Project Approval Board and the Central Share released under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25 and Central Share released for 202526 (as on date) is at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques .

******