Lok Sabha Question No. 2373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Negotiations of MoU for the PM SHRI Scheme in Kerala
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2373 ANSWERED ON - 15/12/2025

## Negotiations of MoU for the PM SHRI Scheme in Kerala

2373. Shri K C Venugopal:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the timeline of the negotiations and execution of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM SHRI scheme with the State Government of Kerala, including the date of signing and any subsequent communications regarding withholding or implementation status as on date along with the total funds sanctioned, disbursed or withheld, if any;

(b) the number of schools in Kerala proposed for upgradation under the said scheme;

(c) whether any complaints and concerns from stakeholders, including teacher associations, parent groups and civil societies regarding the scheme's linkage to the National Education Policy (NEP) have been received and addressed, if so, the details and outcomes thereof; and

(d) whether any funds are pending for sanction and disbursal under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for Kerala and if so, the total amount pending and the timeline for disbursal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) is a centrally sponsored scheme in which PM SHRI schools are set up by strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed  by  Central  Government/State/UT  Government/local  bodies.  These  schools  are  to showcase all the initiatives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, be the exemplar schools, and also offer benchmarking leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood.

Under the PM SHRI scheme, States/UTs sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Centre, laying down the commitments for supporting these schools for achieving specified quality assurance as PM SHRI schools. Thereafter, the selection of PM SHRI schools is done through the challenge mode, wherein schools compete for support to become exemplar schools.

The State of Kerala has signed the MoU on 23 rd October 2025, which is to be followed by transparent challenge mode for the selection of PM SHRI schools. The State of Kerala has been requested to upload information of schools on PM SHRI portal.

The number of schools in Kerala proposed for upgradation under the PM SHRI scheme depends on the norms of the scheme, which limit maximum of two schools per block/ULB, the number of schools that meet the prescribed criteria, and the availability of the balance target under the scheme.

PM SHRI schools are exemplar schools of NEP 2020, where its multiple facets are given effect to.

(d): The Department of School Education & Literacy is implementing the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha in partnership with all the States and UTs. Samagra Shiksha has been aligned  with  NEP  2020.  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.

The  details  of  the  Central  Government  funds  sanctioned  and  disbursed  under  Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to the State of Kerala in the FY 2025-26 is as follows:

## (Rs. in crores)

| Financial Year   |   Total PAB approved |   Total central share approved |   Total central share released (First installment) |
|------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 2025-26          |               761.08 |                         452.05 |                                              92.41 |

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