In a written reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1296 on July 27, 2026, Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary presented state-wise progress under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. Out of a target to strengthen over 14,500 schools, 13,092 schools have been selected nationwide as of July 2026 across States, UTs, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and NCERT. To uphold multilingual education mandated by the National Education Policy 2020, thousands of non-Hindi native language teachers have been deployed, including 6,102 Sanskrit, 1,994 Urdu, and 9,152 regional language teachers.
Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary shared updated progress on the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026. The official statement revealed that 13,092 government schools have been chosen for upgradation out of the planned total of over 14,500. The disclosure also detailed state-wise appointments of teachers in non-Hindi native languages to support multilingual pedagogy aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The written reply was submitted on July 27, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, Parliament of India, New Delhi. It responded to Unstarred Question No. 1296 asked by Member of Parliament Shri S. Venkatesan regarding school coverage and language teacher recruitment across all 36 States and Union Territories.
The PM SHRI initiative operates through a structured selection and execution model:
This disclosure carries major implications across policy and administrative domains. It aligns directly with UPSC GS Paper 2 (Governance, Social Sector Development, and Education Policies). From a constitutional perspective, promoting instruction in mother tongues supports Article 350A guidelines. Economically, improving public school standards lowers out-of-pocket educational expenses for rural households while building human capital for a modern workforce.
The Union Cabinet approved the PM SHRI scheme on September 7, 2022, with a total project budget of ₹27,360 crore over a five-year period from 2022–23 to 2026–27. The project was designed as a key vehicle to operationalize the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, which replaced the 34-year-old National Policy on Education 1986. Historically, central scheme models evolved from Operation Blackboard (1987) to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2001) and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (2018).
In September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the PM SHRI initiative on Teachers' Day. By mid-2023, the first phase saw over 6,200 schools selected from participating states. In 2024, the central government linked fund releases under Samagra Shiksha to state participation in PM SHRI, resolving initial implementation deadlocks with several opposition-ruled state governments.
India's public education network is among the world's largest, catering to over 250 million students across 1.48 million schools. Modernizing 14,500 exemplar schools positions India alongside global models like Singapore's FutureSchools program and South Korea's Smart Education initiative, which leverage tech-enabled green campuses to set standards for nationwide adoption.
The full execution of PM SHRI aims to transform these 13,092+ institutions into mentor schools for surrounding local schools by 2027. The deployment of 17,248 total non-Hindi language teachers (Sanskrit, Urdu, Regional) will strengthen early mother-tongue literacy, reduce dropout rates, and establish a scalable framework for sustainable, smart school infrastructure across India.
Core Concept: Centrally Sponsored Schemes & NEP 2020 School Governance
Q1. What is the total target number of schools intended to be strengthened under the PM SHRI scheme across India? [Easy]
A) 10,000 schools
B) 12,500 schools
C) Over 14,500 schools
D) 20,000 schools
Answer: C
Explanation: The PM SHRI scheme specifically aims to strengthen more than 14,500 schools across the country.
Q2. As per the data presented in Lok Sabha in July 2026, which State/UT has the highest number of selected PM SHRI schools? [Easy]
A) Andhra Pradesh
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Maharashtra
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: D
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh leads the country with 1,888 selected PM SHRI schools as per the official UDISE+ 2025-26 data.
Q3. Under the PM SHRI scheme, which category of language teachers witnessed the maximum number of appointments nationwide as per the July 2026 Lok Sabha reply? [Moderate]
A) Sanskrit language teachers
B) Urdu language teachers
C) Regional language teachers
D) Hindi language teachers
Answer: C
Explanation: Regional language teachers recorded 9,152 appointments, which is higher than Sanskrit (6,102) and Urdu (1,994).
Q4. Which Constitutional Provision specifically directs States to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage? [Moderate]
A) Article 21A
B) Article 45
C) Article 350A
D) Article 351
Answer: C
Explanation: Article 350A directs every State and local authority to provide adequate facilities for primary instruction in mother tongue for linguistic minorities.
Q5. Regarding the funding structure of a Centrally Sponsored Scheme like PM SHRI in general Indian states, what is the standard cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and States? [Moderate]
A) 100% Centre and 0% State
B) 60% Centre and 40% State
C) 50% Centre and 50% State
D) 25% Centre and 75% State
Answer: B
Explanation: For general states, Centrally Sponsored Schemes usually operate on a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and State Governments.
Q6. Statement 1: PM SHRI is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Central Government. Statement 2: The selection of PM SHRI schools includes Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas alongside State Government schools. Which statement(s) is/are correct? [Tricky]
A) Statement 1 only
B) Statement 2 only
C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2
D) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2
Answer: B
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because PM SHRI is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (not Central Sector), whereas Statement 2 is correct as KVS and NVS are included.
Q7. Match the State with its highest language teacher appointment under PM SHRI as per the July 2026 Lok Sabha statement: 1. Madhya Pradesh, 2. Bihar, 3. Andhra Pradesh. Languages: X. Regional Languages, Y. Sanskrit, Z. Urdu. Select the correct matching pair. [Tricky]
A) 1-Y, 2-Z, 3-X
B) 1-X, 2-Y, 3-Z
C) 1-Z, 2-X, 3-Y
D) 1-Y, 2-X, 3-Z
Answer: A
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh deployed the highest Sanskrit teachers (1,211), Bihar the highest Urdu teachers (691), and Andhra Pradesh the highest Regional language teachers (2,142).
Q8. Why are PM SHRI schools designated as "Exemplar Schools" within the architecture of the National Education Policy 2020? [Tricky]
A) They exclusively serve top-ranking academic students through competitive entrance tests.
B) They showcase full implementation of NEP 2020 to mentor and lead surrounding neighborhood schools.
C) They are managed directly by foreign educational boards to introduce international curricula.
D) They operate under a 100% private-public partnership without government administration.
Answer: B
Explanation: PM SHRI schools are designed as model institutions demonstrating full NEP 2020 implementation and mentoring nearby local schools.
PYQ 1:
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, consider the following statements:
A) It covers only Central Government schools like KVS and NVS.
B) It aims to upgrade existing schools to showcase the implementation of NEP 2020.
C) It is entirely funded by private sector corporate social responsibility funds.
D) It replaces the Right to Education Act 2009.
Answer: B
Explanation: PM SHRI aims to upgrade existing government schools into model institutions showcasing NEP 2020 implementation.
PYQ 2:
Consider the following statements regarding the implementation of PM SHRI scheme:
1. PM SHRI is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Education.
2. The scheme incorporates green school features such as solar panels, LED lights, and nutrition gardens.
3. Under the scheme, selected schools are intended to act as mentors for neighboring schools in their regions.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: All three statements are correct regarding the governance, eco-friendly features, and mentorship role of PM SHRI schools.
PYQ 3:
Assertion (A): The PM SHRI scheme places explicit emphasis on recruiting native and regional language teachers across states.
Reason (R): Article 350A of the Indian Constitution emphasizes providing facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: A
Explanation: The policy push for regional and native language teachers aligns with constitutional principles under Article 350A promoting instruction in the mother tongue.
Question 1 (150 words): How does the PM SHRI scheme serve as a catalyst for achieving the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020? Discuss.
The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme serves as an operational laboratory for implementing the vision of NEP 2020. By selecting and upgrading 13,092 existing schools toward a target of over 14,500, the scheme creates exemplar institutions that demonstrate holistic, inquiry-driven, and skill-based learning environments.
Structurally, PM SHRI addresses core NEP mandates through modern infrastructure, digital smart classrooms, and eco-friendly green school practices. Furthermore, the hiring of over 17,200 non-Hindi language teachers—including 6,102 Sanskrit and 9,152 regional language educators—directly fulfills NEP’s push for mother-tongue and multilingual instruction during foundational learning stages.
These upgraded schools act as hubs of excellence that mentor surrounding public schools, spreading best pedagogical practices across rural and urban centers. To maximize impact, state governments must ensure timely fund utilization and continuous teacher capacity building.
Question 2 (250 words): Examine the role of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in overcoming regional disparities in educational quality across Indian states. What key governance challenges affect their execution?
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) such as Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM SHRI play a pivotal role in establishing uniform educational standards across India. Because Education is on the Concurrent List, CSS frameworks allow the Central Government to channel equity-focused funding while leveraging State administrative machinery for local execution.
The PM SHRI initiative exemplifies this balance by targeting over 14,500 schools with a total outlay of ₹27,360 crore. By injecting funds into infrastructure, smart labs, and multi-language teacher recruitment—such as deploying 1,888 schools in Uttar Pradesh and 982 in Andhra Pradesh—the scheme helps narrow the quality gap between resource-rich and socio-economically backward districts.
However, several governance challenges impede optimal scheme execution:
First, fiscal friction often arises regarding the 60:40 financial split, leading to delays when states face budget constraints or political disagreements over scheme branding. Second, administrative capacity varies widely; weaker state departments struggle with timely UDISE+ data updating and fund absorption. Third, recruitments of specialized teachers—such as regional and Sanskrit educators—face geographic mismatches and recruitment delays in peripheral regions.
Way Forward requires streamlining fund transfers through Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts, ensuring transparent performance tracking, and granting functional flexibility to states to adapt central guidelines to local educational needs.