Kerala to Decide on Central PM SHRI Scheme Post Sub-Committee Review

General Education Minister N Samsudheen announced on June 6, 2026 that Kerala will take the call on the implementation of the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme of the central government after detailed discussions among the government and experts. The minister said that the Minister of General Education had submitted a report on the scheme and it will be thoroughly studied before coming to any decision.

What is the PM SHRI Scheme?

The PM SHRI scheme aims to establish selected schools as model schools with a focus on providing holistic education as per the National Education Policy 2020, which was launched in 2022. 

The schools will demonstrate their modern infrastructure, competency based learning and innovative teaching methods as a model for other schools in India. After the Government of Kerala has announced the freezing of PM SHRI procedures, the first instalment of dues under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala scheme has been withdrawn by the Central government.

What is the Reason Behind the Delay?

The urgency in the matter is not there and all the related aspects will be taken into consideration before arriving at a conclusion, Minister Samsudheen said. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is in a political conflict with the opposition Congress, had decided to look into the matter after harsh criticism was raised by the CPI ally, fearing it could pave the way for the "RSS agenda" in Kerala's education system. 

In October 2025, a seven-member Cabinet sub-committee led by the education minister was set up to look into the scheme's implementation.

The project is pending till the committee comes with its report; and Kerala has not started the selection process for schools in the scheme. The state has ratified the Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre, but has not received any instructions thereafter, and the procedure has been put on hold. 

In Kerala, students are already receiving education through the existing education programs in the state and don't have the extra advantage of PM SHRI which entails modern infrastructure and curriculum.

The formal letter to the Union Education Ministry has been issued, but the Centre has not yet replied to the Kerala letter in respect of freezing the scheme. The actual implementation will be fully reliant on the recommendations of the sub-committee.