- Why in news
- On 29 July 2026, the Minister of State for Education told the Rajya Sabha that 13,092 schools have been selected under PM SHRI, and that States which skip the MoU or withdraw miss out on its benefits.
- What it is
- PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) is a centrally sponsored scheme to build exemplar schools that showcase the National Education Policy 2020. These schools are meant to guide other schools in their neighbourhood. It was approved in 2022 for the period 2022-23 to 2026-27.
- Type of scheme
- PM SHRI is a centrally sponsored scheme, so the Centre and States share its cost.
- Implementation period
- The scheme runs from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
- Selection method
- States/UTs first sign an MoU with the Centre. Schools are then picked through Challenge Mode, in which they compete for support.
- Funds
- Fund allocation and release began in FY 2023-24.
Don’t confuse with PM SHRI vs Samagra Shiksha: Samagra Shiksha is the umbrella scheme for school education from pre-school to Class 12. PM SHRI is a separate scheme to build exemplar schools.
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
- Creates model schools that show how NEP 2020 can be applied on the ground and guide neighbouring schools.
Problems
- Some States hesitate to sign the MoU or have withdrawn, leading to Centre-State friction over education policy.
Way forward
- Build consensus with States through the MoU framework while keeping flexibility to contextualise the curriculum.
Put in your answer
Kerala MoU: Kerala signed the PM SHRI MoU on 23 October 2025.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q18Critically examine whether NEP 2020 conforms with SDG-4 and restructures education
- 2020Mains GS4 · Q1Examine NEP 2020 as a tool for holistic development and social transformation
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q18Evaluate education as welfare obligation versus strategic investment for competitive nation
- 2017Prelims Q88Purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana: improving government school quality via private and community help
- 2025Prelims Q6615th Finance Commission recommendations, including grants for enhancing educational outcomes in States
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.PM SHRI is a centrally sponsored scheme under which the Centre and States share the cost.
- 2.Under PM SHRI, schools are selected through Challenge Mode after the State or UT signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre.
- 3.PM SHRI schools must follow a single syllabus prescribed by NCERT, with no flexibility for States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.PM SHRI is a centrally sponsored scheme.
True. The release describes it as a centrally sponsored scheme.
2.PM SHRI schools are selected through Challenge Mode after the State or UT signs an MoU with the Centre.
True. The MoU comes first, then Challenge Mode selection.
3.The scheme is implemented from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
True. The implementation timeline is 2022-23 to 2026-27.
4.PM SHRI schools must follow a single uniform national syllabus prescribed by NCERT, with no State flexibility.
False. They follow the CBSE or State/UT syllabus per affiliation, and States can contextualise the curriculum.
5.PM SHRI schools are meant to showcase the initiatives of the National Education Policy 2020.
True. Showcasing NEP 2020 and acting as exemplar schools is the scheme's core aim.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.