Overview

PM SHRI School Scheme — full form Prime Minister Schools for Rising India — is a government initiative launched in 2022 by the Government of India.
The PM SHRI School Scheme is a big plan by the Indian government to make schools better. It helps students learn in fun and modern ways.Under this scheme, more than 14,500 schools across India will be developed as PM SHRI Schools. These schools will serve as model schools, setting benchmarks for other government schools to follow.

What is the PM SHRI Scheme?

1. PM SHRI stands for Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India. It is a program started by the Government of India on September 7, 2022.
2. The scheme aims to turn about 14,500 regular government schools into model schools. These schools follow the rules of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
3. They are run by the central government, state governments, local bodies, or groups like Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
4. The main idea is to make schools places where every child feels safe, happy, and ready to learn new things.These schools will focus on providing quality education, modern infrastructure, and green and inclusive learning environments. The goal is to make them centres of excellence where students not only study subjects but also learn skills, critical thinking, and values for a sustainable future.

Objectives of the Scheme

1. To create schools that show how NEP 2020 works in real life.
2. To help students grow in all ways – body, mind, and skills for the future, like thinking critically and using computers.
3. To make learning fun with games, stories, arts, and sports.
4. To ensure no child drops out of school and everyone learns basic reading and math by Class 3.
5. To teach about the environment, like saving water and using solar power, schools become "green schools."
6. To connect schools with local jobs and skills, so students can find good work later.
7. To involve parents, teachers, and the community to make schools better.
8. These objectives help build a strong India by making sure kids become smart and kind citizens.

Key Features

1. Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment: Teaching uses fun methods like play, stories, and hands-on activities. Tests check real understanding, not just memory. There are progress cards that show skills in thinking, feelings, and actions.
2. Access and Infrastructure: Schools get good buildings, ramps for disabled kids, labs for science and math, smart classrooms with digital boards, libraries, playgrounds, clean toilets, and safe drinking water.
3. Human Resources and School Leadership: Teachers get training every year. There are enough teachers, counselors, and special helpers for kids who need extra support.
4. Inclusive Practices and Gender Equity: All kids, including girls, disabled, or from poor families, get equal chances. Schools track dropouts and help them come back.
5. Management, Monitoring, and Governance: Schools make plans with parents' groups. They use online tools to check progress.
6. Beneficiary Satisfaction: Everyone – students, teachers, parents – should be happy. There are meetings, events, and feedback ways.
7. Other features include vocational training, eco-clubs, health check-ups, and using school buildings for community events after class.

Selection Process and Implemented

1. States or groups like KVS sign an agreement (MoU) with the central government to follow NEP.
2. Schools are checked using UDISE+ data to see if they meet minimum rules.
3. Eligible schools apply online in a challenge. They get scores on things like buildings, teaching, and green practices. Urban schools need a 70% score, rural schools need 60%. Only two schools per block can be picked.
4. An expert team approves the final list. Selected schools add "PM SHRI" to their name.The scheme runs for five years. Schools make their own plans to improve. They work with other government programs like Samagra Shiksha for money, PM POSHAN for meals, and Jal Jeevan Mission for water.
5. Monitoring is strict. Schools use tools like School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) to check themselves. There are committees at district, state, and national levels. Online systems track students, teachers, and progress. Schools also mentor nearby schools to spread good ideas.

Funding and Benefits

Funding:

• The PM SHRI Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, meaning both the Central Government and State Governments share the cost.
• The scheme will run for five years.
• The total estimated cost is about ₹27,360 crore, out of which the Central Government will provide around ₹18,128 crore.
• Funds are given to schools through existing programs like Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, and other education-related schemes.

Benefits:

• Schools will get modern infrastructure like smart classrooms, labs, libraries, solar panels, and sports facilities.
• Focus on digital learning, green practices (like waste management, rainwater harvesting, solar energy), and inclusive education for all students.
• Students will receive better quality education, with focus on critical thinking, creativity, and skill development instead of rote learning.
• Teachers will get training and support to use new teaching methods and technology.
• PM SHRI schools will act as mentor schools, helping nearby government schools improve their own standards.

Progress and Challenges

By 2025, over 13,000 schools are approved, including many in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. Enrollment has gone up in many schools, like 75% in some places.

But there are issues. Some states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu did not join at first because they worried about too much control from the center or changes to education. The government stopped other funds until they agreed. Kerala signed in October 2025 to get money back. This shows fights between center and states on education.

Conclusion

The PM SHRI Scheme is a great step to make Indian schools world-class. It focuses on fun learning, skills, and equality. If done well, it can help millions of kids build a bright future for India. this scheme will make government schools more modern, smart, and future-ready, improving both education quality and student learning experience across India.