The Centre has made it clear that it cannot hold the PM-SHRI process indefinitely and will decide on the next steps once Kerala's official communication is received.
Published Oct 31, 2025 | 8:00 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 31, 2025 | 8:00 PM
PM SHRI. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Following Punjab’s decision to withdraw from the PM-SHRI scheme, the Centre reportedly held back ₹515 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan funds. Subsequently, on 26 July 2024, the state conveyed its readiness to rejoin the scheme. Punjab later reversed its stance after a policy review — a move that could now shape Kerala’s approach.
In a significant policy shift, the Kerala government has decided to put the implementation of the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme on hold, following objections raised by key Left Democratic Front (LDF) allies, particularly the CPI.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that a seven-member Cabinet sub-committee, headed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, will conduct a detailed review before any further action is taken.
“Considering the concerns and controversies surrounding the scheme, the committee will examine all aspects and submit its findings. Until then, the state will request the Centre to freeze the implementation,” the chief minister said.
As the first procedural step toward the freeze, Chief Secretary A Jayathilak has prepared a draft letter to the Union government seeking suspension of the agreement. The letter, to be sent after the chief minister’s review, will communicate the Cabinet’s decision to temporarily halt progress under the scheme.
The move effectively ensures that no schools from Kerala will be shortlisted for the PM-SHRI scheme this academic year. According to the scheme’s guidelines, schools can apply through an online portal that reopens in January, marking the fourth quarter.
Unless the sub-committee submits its report before that, Kerala will miss the upcoming round of selections.
Punjab’s journey with the PM-SHRI scheme serves as a useful precedent for Kerala. Punjab initially joined the initiative in October 2022 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre. However, it later introduced its own school transformation programmes — Schools of Eminence, Schools of Brilliance, and Schools of Happiness — alongside existing Adarsh and Smart School projects.
Believing that the PM-SHRI framework could overlap with its ongoing state-level schemes, Punjab decided to withdraw from the MoU in August 2023 after obtaining legal advice supporting such a move.
However, the Union Education Ministry and the Department of School Education clarified that, under the MoU’s terms, only the Centre had the authority to revoke or terminate the agreement. Any changes or amendments, they said, could be made solely through mutual consent between the central and state governments.
Following Punjab’s decision to withdraw from the PM-SHRI scheme, the Centre reportedly held back ₹515 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds. Subsequently, on 26 July 2024, the state conveyed its readiness to rejoin the scheme. Punjab later reversed its stance after a policy review — a move that could now shape Kerala’s approach.
Advocate N Lalkumar, speaking to South First, noted that once a contract or understanding is signed between two parties, one side cannot easily retract. ”Even though it is an MoU, it still represents a formal agreement. In this case, the other party is the central government, so political dimensions are unavoidable,” he explained.
He added that Kerala’s decision to sign the MoU in the first place may have stemmed from concerns that refusal could lead to the blocking of SSA funds.
”Such arbitrary actions by the Centre are complicating the situation further. Denying SSA funds would constitute a violation of Article 14,” he said.
However, he pointed out that since this falls within the ambit of government policy, courts are generally reluctant to intervene, even if a legal challenge is made — a factor that adds to the state’s dilemma.
With the state entering a politically sensitive phase ahead of the Assembly elections, the Kerala government appears cautious about making any immediate or irreversible decisions. Meanwhile, the Centre has made it clear that it cannot hold the PM-SHRI process indefinitely and will decide on the next steps once Kerala’s official communication is received.
The PM-SHRI scheme functions through three key stages: First, the signing of an MoU between the Centre and the state; second, the selection of eligible schools using data from the UDISE Plus portal, based on predefined competitive criteria; and finally, verification of compliance by the state government.
According to sources in the Union Ministry of Education, officials have not yet been officially informed about Kerala’s decision to freeze the project.
They indicated that the Centre plans to continue implementing the scheme as per the existing MoU. They also clarified that no state-specific relaxations can be made, and it remains up to each state to determine its mode of participation.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has so far refrained from commenting on reports of Kerala’s possible withdrawal.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
