- Why in news
- On 30 July 2026, the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs told the Lok Sabha that 728 EMRSs are approved and 508 are functional. He also listed steps to improve quality and governance.
- What it is
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools are residential schools for Scheduled Tribe students, run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. They give quality education, mostly from Class 6 to 12, in a tribal setting that keeps local art and culture. They are set up in tribal-dominated areas.
- Siting criteria
- EMRSs are set up in blocks with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, as per Census 2011.
- Status
- 728 EMRSs are approved and 508 are functional across the country.
- Implementing body
- NESTS is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It gives policy direction, academic support, monitoring and recruitment support, and releases recurring grants directly to schools.
- Local management
- State EMRS Societies run the schools. District-level committees under the Collector or District Magistrate oversee local implementation.
- Recruitment
- Staff are recruited centrally through the EMRS Staff Selection Examination (ESSE). 9111 staff have been recruited so far.
Don’t confuse with EMRS vs Ashram Schools: Ashram schools are older tribal residential schools, many run by states. EMRSs are a Centre-led scheme with NESTS as the body in charge.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives ST children quality residential education close to home and so helps close the tribal education gap.
- Retains local art and culture while adding skills and digital learning.
Problems
- Only 508 of 728 approved schools are functional because of construction delays and vacancies.
- Staff shortages and uneven spread across states affect quality.
Way forward
- Speed up construction and use alternate buildings, as the Ministry has advised states.
- Complete central recruitment and monitor learning outcomes along with infrastructure.
Put in your answer
EMRS rollout gap: 728 EMRSs approved but 508 functional shows an implementation gap in welfare schemes.
Governance reform: Autonomous NESTS, state societies and district committees show a multi-level delivery model.
- 2021Mains GS1 · Q9Examine how the tribal knowledge system is unique compared with mainstream knowledge and culture.
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q10Why are tribals called Scheduled Tribes, and what constitutional provisions exist for their upliftment?
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q6Does India's tribal development policy reflect socially grounded, equity-based governance aspirations? Justify.
- 2026Prelims Q57Which statements on SC and ST provisions, including Fifth Schedule and tribal tax exemptions, are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme with criteria (over 50% ST population, 20,000 tribals) and numbers (728 approved, 508 functional). Card suffices; UPSC rarely asks it fresh.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.