Why in News? On 15 May 2026 the Union Ministry of Education and the West Bengal government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the PM SHRI scheme in the state. The agreement brought West Bengal into the centrally sponsored school transformation programme after earlier resistance.
Background
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in September 2022. It aims to upgrade more than 14,500 government schools across India into model institutions that showcase the principles of the National Education Policy 2020. The five‑year programme (2022‑23 to 2026‑27) has a total outlay of about ₹27,360 crore, with the central government providing ₹18,128 crore. Funding is shared between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio for most states, 90:10 for North‑Eastern and Himalayan states, and 100 per cent for Union Territories.
Key Features
- Holistic and inclusive education: PM SHRI schools provide an equitable, joyful learning environment that respects diverse backgrounds, multilingual needs and different learning abilities. Curriculum follows the National Curriculum Framework aligned to NEP 2020.
- Modern infrastructure and pedagogy: Schools are equipped with smart classrooms, science and math kits, digital libraries, arts and music rooms, sports facilities and vocational training labs. Teaching focuses on experiential, inquiry‑based and discussion‑oriented methods. Students have “bagless days” and internships with local artisans to connect learning with real life.
- Green initiatives: PM SHRI schools adopt solar panels, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, nutrition gardens and waste‑management systems. Environmental awareness campaigns and climate‑change hackathons encourage sustainable lifestyles.
- Assessment and mentoring: A School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) sets performance indicators for learning outcomes, resource adequacy and governance. Each PM SHRI school mentors neighbouring schools to spread best practices.
- Selection process: States sign a MoU committing to implement NEP 2020. Schools self‑apply through an online portal and are selected through a three‑stage challenge mode using UDISE+ data and defined benchmarks. At the time of the West Bengal agreement, more than 13,000 schools had been selected nationwide.
West Bengal Joins the Scheme
West Bengal initially declined to sign the MoU, citing concerns about branding and control. After a change of administration, the state agreed to implement the scheme. The MoU was signed at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi between officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy and West Bengal’s education department. With West Bengal on board, only Kerala and Tamil Nadu had yet to join the programme.
Conclusion
The PM SHRI scheme seeks to transform existing government schools into exemplars of quality and inclusivity. By combining modern infrastructure, innovative pedagogy and community involvement, the programme aims to provide students with the skills and values needed for the twenty‑first century. The inclusion of West Bengal underscores growing consensus around implementing NEP 2020 and highlights the potential of cooperative federalism in education reform.
Sources: HT