Keralam Faces Pressure to Decide on PM SHRI Scheme as Centre Sends Second Letter
Thiruvananthapuram: The Keralam government is once again facing pressure from the Centre to take an early decision on implementing the Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. The Union Education Secretary has written to the Keralam Chief Secretary, seeking clarity on the state’s position and urging it to move ahead with the scheme.
General Education Minister N. Shamsudeen confirmed on Friday, September 11, that the state had received the letter around two to three days earlier. He said this was the second communication from the Centre since the United Democratic Front (UDF) government came to power.
The development has brought the issue back into focus, with the Congress-led UDF government now required to take a decision on an agreement that was originally signed by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
Centre Seeks Clarity on Existing PM SHRI Agreement
The Centre has pointed out that the Keralam government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementing PM SHRI. It has now asked the state to clarify its position and take the process forward.
However, Shamsudeen said he could not make any final announcement on the issue at this stage. The matter is expected to be discussed by Chief Minister and UDF leaders before the government takes a decision.
The minister said the state still has concerns regarding the scheme and that these issues need to be examined before arriving at a final position.
The latest communication has also brought differences within the Congress and the wider UDF into focus.
Congress to Wait for Cabinet Subcommittee Report
The Congress leadership has maintained that a final decision should be taken after the report of the Cabinet subcommittee formed to examine the issue.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph has said that the government would consider the report before taking a final call on PM SHRI.
The issue is sensitive within the Congress because some leaders believe that accepting the scheme could increase the Centre’s influence over the state’s education system. They are particularly concerned about provisions linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
At the same time, another section is worried that rejecting the scheme could affect the flow of central funds meant for education.
This has created a political and financial dilemma for the UDF government.
Why Did the Previous LDF Government Sign the MoU?
The previous LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan signed the PM SHRI MoU with the Centre in October 2025.
The decision immediately faced opposition from the Communist Party of India (CPI), a constituent of the LDF. The CPI argued that the agreement could create a pathway for the implementation of NEP 2020 and greater involvement of the Centre in the state’s education system.
The CPI also accused the government of not holding adequate consultations with coalition partners before signing the agreement.
The disagreement became serious enough for CPI ministers to boycott a Cabinet meeting in October 2025.
Following the controversy, the LDF government decided to put the implementation of PM SHRI on hold and constituted a seven-member Cabinet subcommittee to examine the matter.
UDF Government Faces a Political and Financial Dilemma
The issue has now been inherited by the UDF government, which came to power in 2026.
The Congress and UDF had opposed the LDF government’s decision to sign the PM SHRI agreement while they were in the opposition. However, the situation has become more complicated after the Centre reminded the new government that the MoU had already been signed.
At a recent Congress meeting, some leaders reportedly opposed implementing the scheme. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan reportedly pointed out that since the previous government had already entered into an agreement with the Centre, withdrawing from it would not be straightforward.
At the same time, the government has maintained that the interests of the state’s schools, including issues related to school selection and curriculum, should not be compromised.
The final decision is therefore expected to balance political concerns with the state’s financial interests.
Central Education Funding Becomes a Key Concern
One of the biggest issues surrounding PM SHRI is central funding for education.
General Education Minister N. Shamsudeen has said that around ₹2,000 crore in central education funds is currently pending for Keralam.
He has also maintained that funds meant for other education programmes should not be withheld because of the state’s position on PM SHRI.
The funding issue has added another dimension to the debate. In 2024-25, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal did not receive the Centre’s share under the Samagra Shiksha programme amid disagreements over certain conditions and guidelines.
According to the information cited by the state, after Keralam signed the PM SHRI MoU, the Centre released ₹92 crore under Samagra Shiksha, while ₹109 crore was still due at the time.
In December 2025, the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also informed Parliament about Keralam’s PM SHRI agreement and the developments that followed.
What Is the PM SHRI Scheme?
The PM SHRI scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet on September 7, 2022.
PM SHRI stands for Prime Minister Schools for Rising India. Under the scheme, more than 14,500 existing schools across the country are proposed to be strengthened and developed as model schools.
The objective is to improve school infrastructure, create better learning environments and introduce modern facilities and technology.
The scheme is not limited to physical infrastructure. It also focuses on improving teaching methods, digital education, skill development, sports, arts and other aspects of students’ overall development.
The Centre has said that more than 20 lakh students are expected to benefit from the initiative.
The proposed implementation period of the scheme is from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Why Is NEP 2020 at the Centre of the Dispute?
The main political disagreement over PM SHRI in Keralam is linked to its connection with the National Education Policy 2020.
PM SHRI schools are intended to serve as model institutions for implementing the provisions and approach of NEP 2020.
Critics in Keralam fear that participation in the scheme could increase the Centre’s influence over the state’s education policies and gradually push the implementation of NEP 2020.
Supporters of the scheme, however, argue that PM SHRI can help improve school infrastructure, teaching practices, technology use and the overall quality of education.
The disagreement is therefore not simply about accepting or rejecting a central scheme. It also involves questions about the state’s education policy, federal relations and access to central funds.
Keralam’s Next Move on PM SHRI
The immediate focus is now on the report of the Cabinet subcommittee and the discussions within the UDF.
The Keralam government will have to decide whether to proceed with the PM SHRI scheme, renegotiate its position or continue keeping the implementation on hold.
The Centre’s second letter has increased the pressure on the state to take a clear stand.
For the UDF government, the decision will require it to balance its earlier political opposition to PM SHRI with the financial importance of central education funds.
The final decision is expected to emerge after the Cabinet subcommittee submits its report and the UDF leadership discusses the issue.