Government to Renew PM SHRI Rollout Efforts in Bengal and Tamil Nadu
The Centre is preparing a renewed push to implement the PM SHRI school scheme in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu after recent election results, aiming to expand NEP 2020-aligned education reforms across more states.
The Centre is preparing to intensify efforts to implement the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu following the conclusion of recent electoral processes, signalling a renewed push to expand flagship education reforms aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Officials in the Ministry of Education are expected to reopen discussions with both state governments, which have so far resisted signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) required for participation in the scheme. The development comes as the Centre aims to accelerate modernization of school infrastructure and strengthen implementation of NEP-linked reforms across the country.
The PM SHRI initiative was launched to transform selected government schools into model institutions equipped with modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, skill-based learning systems, digital facilities, and environmentally sustainable campuses. The scheme also seeks to promote experiential and competency-based education envisioned under the NEP 2020 framework.
While most Indian states have joined the programme, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have remained among the few holdouts. Both states have previously raised concerns regarding the alleged “imposition” of NEP-linked conditions and issues related to federal autonomy in education policy implementation.
According to government sources, the Centre now believes that the post-election environment could create space for renewed negotiations and administrative cooperation. Officials are expected to emphasize the financial and infrastructural benefits available to participating schools under the scheme.
Under PM SHRI, schools receive targeted funding to improve laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, digital learning resources, teacher training, and inclusive education practices. The initiative also focuses on integrating vocational education, multilingual teaching approaches, and technology-enabled classrooms.
Education experts believe that extending the scheme to all states would help reduce disparities in public school infrastructure and create a more standardized quality benchmark nationwide. However, analysts also note that the continuing disagreement highlights a larger debate over Centre-state relations in education governance.
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed several aspects of the NEP, particularly the three-language formula, arguing that education policy should remain sensitive to regional linguistic and cultural priorities. West Bengal, too, has maintained reservations about centrally designed education frameworks.
Despite the political friction, many educationists argue that collaboration rather than confrontation is necessary to improve public education outcomes. They point out that government schools in both states have large student populations that could benefit significantly from infrastructure upgrades and digital learning investments.
The Centre, meanwhile, appears determined to position PM SHRI as a flagship reform model capable of showcasing the future direction of Indian school education. Officials have repeatedly stated that the scheme is intended not merely as an infrastructure programme but as a comprehensive transformation initiative aimed at preparing students for a rapidly evolving global economy.
As discussions resume in the coming months, the outcome will likely carry significance beyond the two states themselves. It may shape the broader trajectory of cooperative federalism in education policy and determine how national reform agendas are negotiated in politically diverse states.
For now, the Centre’s renewed outreach signals that PM SHRI remains central to its long-term education strategy—and that bringing West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on board is becoming an increasingly important political and policy objective.