Last Updated: May 16, 2026
West Bengal has formally joined the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Education on May 15, 2026. The move marks a major policy shift in the state’s approach to centrally sponsored education programmes following the formation of the new government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The PM SHRI initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education on September 7, 2022, to upgrade selected government schools into model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to official guidelines issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), the scheme focuses on digital learning, modern infrastructure, competency-based education, and environmentally sustainable campuses.
The agreement was signed at Kartavya Bhawan by Dheeraj Sahu, Additional Secretary representing the Government of India, and Binod Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary for West Bengal. Senior education ministry officials, including DoSEL Secretary Sanjay Kumar, were also present during the signing ceremony.
Central Schemes Approved by New Government
The PM SHRI decision followed the first cabinet meeting of the new West Bengal government held at Nabanna on May 11, 2026. During the meeting, the administration approved implementation of several centrally sponsored welfare schemes that had not previously been adopted in the state.
|
Scheme |
Sector |
|
PM SHRI |
School education |
|
Ayushman Bharat |
Healthcare |
|
PM Fasal Bima Yojana |
Agriculture |
|
PM Vishwakarma Yojana |
Skill development |
|
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao |
Women and child welfare |
|
PM Ujjwala Yojana |
Household welfare |
The state government also announced that Vande Mataram would be included in school morning assemblies from the following week. Readers should verify implementation-related instructions through official state education department notifications.
Why PM SHRI Was Earlier Opposed
The previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration had not implemented PM SHRI, citing concerns related to co-branding and administrative autonomy in school education.
Under official PM SHRI guidelines, the funding structure generally follows a 60:40 Centre-state sharing pattern for most states. The earlier state government had objected to the use of the “PM SHRI” label for schools partly funded by the state.
Policy differences over NEP 2020 also contributed to the disagreement. The national policy introduced a revised academic framework covering foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages of school education.
5+3+3+4
West Bengal’s State Education Policy, introduced in 2023, retained the earlier 5+4+2+2 structure instead of fully adopting the NEP framework.
Pending SSA and PM POSHAN Funds
According to parliamentary discussions, ministry statements, and state-level reporting available as of May 2026, allocations under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and PM POSHAN remained partially released or pending during the dispute period.
|
Financial Year |
Reported Funding Status |
|
2023–24 |
Partial SSA release reported |
|
2024–25 |
No SSA release reported |
|
2025–26 |
Pending allocation status |
Former state education officials stated that pending SSA-related dues crossed Rs 3,288 crore since 2022–23. Ministry officials have indicated that the signing of the PM SHRI agreement may help clear pending allocations linked to education schemes.
Features Planned Under PM SHRI Schools
According to official operational guidelines, selected schools may receive infrastructure and academic upgrades aimed at improving learning outcomes.
|
Feature |
Proposed Upgrade |
|
Smart Classrooms |
Digital learning support |
|
ICT Labs |
Computer-based education |
|
Integrated Science Labs |
Practical science learning |
|
Green School Measures |
Solar panels and rainwater harvesting |
|
STEAM Education |
Multidisciplinary learning model |
|
Atal Tinkering Labs |
Innovation and skill development |
The scheme also promotes competency-based and experiential learning methods recommended under NEP 2020.
Official Verification and Safety Advisory
Readers should rely only on official government portals, Ministry of Education releases, and authorised state notifications for updates related to PM SHRI implementation and education funding.
Avoid sharing Aadhaar details, OTPs, passwords, or banking information through unofficial websites, social media messages, or unknown calls claiming to provide educational scheme approvals. Government departments do not request payments for participation in centrally sponsored programmes.
Editorial Disclaimer
This article is based on Ministry of Education releases, parliamentary records, state government statements, and publicly available reports accessed in May 2026. Funding releases, implementation timelines, and policy decisions may change through future official notifications. Readers should verify updates through authorised government sources before relying on administrative or financial information.