While denying funds to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Centre allocated ₹6,264.79 crore under SSA and ₹246.86 crore to Uttar Pradesh and ₹3,434.71 crore under SSA and ₹145.32 crore under PM-SHRI to Madhya Pradesh.
Published Jul 22, 2025 | 6:31 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2025 | 6:31 PM
Centre denies education funds to Tamil Nadu, Kerala over NEP resistance, sparks federalism row
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been denied central education funds under SSA and PM-SHRI for 2024–25, despite receiving allocations in 2023–24. The Centre cited their refusal to sign the PM-SHRI MoU endorsing NEP 2020. Meanwhile, northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh received large grants, sparking criticism of political bias and erosion of cooperative federalism in education policy
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been denied central education funds under key schemes for two consecutive years, even as northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh receive massive allocations—triggering allegations of political bias and undermining of cooperative federalism.
In a written response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 9 on 21 July, the Ministry of Education confirmed that neither Tamil Nadu nor Kerala received any funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) or PM-SHRI schemes in 2024–25.
This comes despite Tamil Nadu having received ₹1,876.16 crore and Kerala ₹141.66 crore under SSA in 2023–24.
The reason? Both states have refused to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) required for participation in the PM-SHRI scheme, which is designed to showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Centre insists that PM-SHRI schools must reflect full alignment with NEP goals. Tamil Nadu and Kerala, however, have consistently opposed the NEP, calling it a “centralising, one-size-fits-all policy” that threatens state autonomy, linguistic diversity, and inclusive education.
While these two southern states face zero allocations, their northern counterparts continue to benefit:
The stark funding disparity has drawn widespread criticism. State ministers and education experts argue that the Centre is using financial levers to pressure non-compliant states into adopting the NEP, rather than upholding the constitutional principles of equity and cooperative federalism.
“This is nothing short of punitive federalism,” a senior Tamil Nadu education official said. “Our children are being penalised because the state government refuses to toe the Centre’s ideological line.”
The denial of funds, officials say, has affected infrastructure upgrades, ICT interventions, and teacher training programs in both states—despite their strong public education systems and consistent top rankings in learning outcomes.
The Education Ministry, in its reply, maintained that Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI are aligned with NEP 2020 and that MoU compliance is a necessary condition for fund release. Of 36 states and Union Territories, 33 have signed the PM-SHRI MoU; West Bengal, Kerala, and one other have not.
The Ministry also acknowledged no pending infrastructure proposals from West Bengal’s Mathurapur constituency, but did not commit to releasing over ₹1,500 crore reportedly withheld from the state.
Opposition MPs, including Kodikunnil Suresh and Bapi Haldar—who raised the Lok Sabha question—accused the Union Government of “discriminatory governance” and urged for a policy-based, not politics-based, approach to educational equity.
With the Centre insisting that states must fully embrace NEP to receive support, and southern states standing firm on their ideological and constitutional concerns, the education funding face-off looks set to escalate in the coming months.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
