Relevance (UPSC GS-II: Education & Governance; GS-III: Inclusive Growth—Human Resources)

What’s the scheme?

PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India), launched in 2022, upgrades selected existing government schools (Central/State/Local body, including Kendriya and Navodaya) into model schools that demonstrate NEP 2020—experiential learning, foundational literacy-numeracy, art-integrated pedagogy, skilling, inclusivity, and green practices. Around 14,500 schools are to be developed through a challenge-mode selection and periodic reviews using a School Quality Assessment Framework.

Money and management

• Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:States) for most states; 90:10 for Northeast/Himalayan states and some Union Territories; 100% for UTs without legislature.
  
• Works in convergence with Samagra Shiksha, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat, and teacher training initiatives.
  
• Releases are linked to outcome indicators (attendance, FLN, transition rates, inclusive education, climate-resilient campus features).
  

Why it matters now

• Creates exemplar schools that nearby institutions can emulate.
  
• Pushes vocational exposure and local language in early grades, improving learning outcomes and job readiness.
  
• Encourages solar power, rainwater harvesting, waste management, making schools resource-efficient and disaster-ready.
  

Key features to remember

• Existing schools—not new buildings.
  
• NEP-aligned curriculum, digital learning, foundational literacy-numeracy focus.
  
• Inclusive education for children with special needs; barrier-free access.
  
• Transparent selection with third-party assessment and public dashboards.
  

Exam hook

Answer in four steps: (1) Aim & design → (2) Funding & convergence → (3) NEP features (FLN, skilling, inclusion, green) → (4) Accountability (SQAF, challenge mode, outcomes).

UPSC Prelims question

With reference to PM SHRI, consider the following statements:

1. It upgrades existing government schools to serve as NEP 2020 model schools.
   
2. The scheme provides a uniform 100% central funding to all states and Union Territories.
   
3. Selection is through a challenge-mode with periodic assessment under a School Quality Assessment Framework.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Answer: (b)
   

One-line wrap
PM SHRI is NEP 2020 in action—upgrade what we have, measure what matters, and let good schools lead the way.