SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Context:

Recently, the Government of India approved 1.46 lakh smart classrooms across India under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

More on the News

• As of May 31, 2025, a total of 1,46,040 smart classrooms have been approved out of which 86753 are functional across the country for school education under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.
• The non-recurring grant for Smart Classrooms (2 smart classrooms per school) is of Rs 2.40 lakh, and the recurring grant is Rs 38,000 (including e-content and digital resources, charges for electricity). 
• As of May 31, 2025, a total of 1,56,213 Information and Communication Technology Labs have been approved out of which 1,14,552 are functional across the country.
• The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

The Union Budget 2018–19 proposed a holistic approach to school education from pre-primary to Class XII. In response, the government launched the Samagra Shiksha scheme in 2018 as an integrated framework for school education. 

The scheme has been continued for a period of five years with effect from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026.

The aim of the Scheme is to support States in universalising access to School Education from classes pre-nursery (pre-school) to Class XII.

The Scheme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of education through a single State Implementation Society (SIS) at the State/UT level.

The vision of the scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.

The Scheme is formed by merging three major schemes:

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – for elementary education.
• Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) – for secondary education.
• Teacher Education (TE) – for training and professional development of educators.

The scheme treats school education as a continuum and is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal for Education (SDG-4).

The scheme covers 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools (from pre-primary to senior secondary level) by involving all stakeholders of the school ecosystem

Fund Sharing Pattern under Samagra Shiksha

• The scheme follows a 90:10 funding ratio between the Centre and North-Eastern & Himalayan States.
• A 60:40 ratio applies to all other States and Union Territories with Legislature.
• For Union Territories without Legislature, the scheme is 100% centrally funded.

The major objectives of the scheme are:

• Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students
• Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education
• Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education
• Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions
• Promoting vocationalization of education
• Support States in the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009
• Strengthening and up-gradation of State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District
• Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as a nodal agency for teacher training

Significance of the scheme

• Supports Implementation of the RTE Act, 2009: It ensures every child receives free and compulsory education, reinforcing the constitutional mandate for universal schooling.
• Alignment with NEP 2020 for Holistic Education: It promotes equitable, inclusive, and quality education from pre-primary to senior secondary levels, with an emphasis on digital learning and systemic reforms.
• Fulfils Global Education Commitments (SDG-4): It contributes to SDG 4.1 by ensuring quality education for all and to SDG 4.5 by addressing gender and social disparities in access to education.

Source:

https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/07/28/1-46-lakh-smart-classrooms-in-schools-approved-till-may-31-dharmendra-pradhan/ https://samagra.education.gov.in/docs/samagra_shiksha.pdf https://www.samagrashikshaup.in/upefapbcontent/content/msp_content/Samagra%20Shiksha%20FMP%20Manual%20-%202024.pdf https://samagra.education.gov.in/about.html https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/185/AU47_eukrSF.pdf?source=pqals