- Over 20 lakh students set to benefit as PM SHRI reaches nearly 90% of its 14,500-school target
- Rs 27,360-crore scheme seeks to turn existing schools into exemplar institutions
- Infrastructure, pedagogy, inclusion and sustainability at the heart of five-year transformation
- KVS, NVS and NCERT institutions among schools selected under the national initiative
- Central PAB outlay more than doubles from Rs 2,520 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 5,224 crore in 2026-27
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
NEW DELHI, SEPT 16
India’s school-transformation mission is moving from blueprint to classroom, with 13,092 schools across States and Union Territories now selected under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme, putting the flagship initiative at nearly 90% of its 14,500-school target and placing more than 20 lakh students at the centre of a nationwide push towards future-ready education.
Launched on September 7, 2022, PM SHRI seeks to transform existing schools into exemplar institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The five-year initiative, running from 2022-23 to 2026-27, carries a total project outlay of Rs 27,360 crore, including a Central share of Rs 18,128 crore.
The numbers indicate the scale of the exercise; its larger test, however, lies in whether upgraded infrastructure and modern learning resources translate into stronger classroom experiences, improved learning outcomes and genuinely inclusive education.
From school buildings to learning ecosystems
PM SHRI is designed not simply as an infrastructure programme but as a broader effort to reshape the school as a safe, stimulating, inclusive and welcoming learning ecosystem.
The selected schools are expected to demonstrate effective implementation of NEP 2020 through modern teaching and learning practices, improved learning facilities, diverse educational experiences and an emphasis on the holistic development of children.
The initiative places particular emphasis on strengthening infrastructure, improving pedagogy, promoting inclusion and sustainability, and equipping students with skills required for the 21st century.
The vision is that these schools will subsequently function as models whose practices can be adopted by other institutions.
13,092 schools, more than 20 lakh beneficiaries
Government data cited in the statement shows that 13,092 schools had been selected as PM SHRI Schools as of July this year.
The network includes institutions under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), alongside schools selected across States and Union Territories.
At the present level, the programme has covered approximately 90% of its stated target of more than 14,500 existing schools.
The government estimates that more than 20 lakh students will directly benefit from improved infrastructure, learning facilities and educational practices under the initiative.
Investment gathers momentum
The financial trajectory of PM SHRI also points to an expanding implementation footprint.
While the total project cost has been fixed at Rs 27,360 crore, the Central share of the approved Project Approval Board (PAB) outlay has risen substantially—from Rs 2,520 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 5,224 crore in 2026-27.
That amounts to an increase of approximately 107%, underlining the growing financial commitment towards strengthening the selected schools and their learning environments.
The five-year architecture of the programme provides for sustained investment rather than a one-time infrastructure intervention.
A nationwide classroom transformation
The PM SHRI framework comes against the backdrop of a vast Indian school-education system comprising 14.71 lakh schools serving more than 24.69 crore students.
“India is witnessing a significant transformation in its school education system, marked by a growing emphasis on quality, equity, inclusion, and future-ready learning,” officials said.
They added that the education system is increasingly focused on “enhancing learning outcomes and creating enabling environments that support the holistic development of every learner.”
That formulation captures the broader ambition of PM SHRI: moving the conversation beyond the physical school campus towards what happens inside the classroom and in the learning journey of every child.
The real benchmark: what happens after the makeover?
The nearly 90% progress towards the target marks an important implementation milestone. But the lasting measure of PM SHRI will extend beyond the number of schools selected or the amount invested.
The programme envisages these institutions as demonstration schools for NEP 2020—places where experiential learning, inclusion, sustainability, technology, skills and holistic development become visible elements of everyday schooling.
If that model takes root, PM SHRI could potentially influence practices well beyond the schools directly covered by the scheme.
The next chapter, therefore, is not merely about reaching 14,500 schools. It is about ensuring that the transformation is reflected in how children learn, what they learn and how effectively schools prepare them for the rapidly changing world of the 21st century.
