Parliament Question: Central educational schemes in Jammu and Kashmir

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3727 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 Central educational schemes in Jammu and Kashmir 3727 Shri Gulam Ali: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) whether various Central developmental schemes are being implemented in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen school and higher education sectors, including Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI and PM USHA; (b) the total funds allocated, released and utilized under these schemes during the last five financial years, along with district-wise details thereof; and (c) the steps taken to address infrastructure gaps, teacher vacancies, digital connectivity challenges and monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective implementation across rural, tribal and border districts of the Union Territory? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (c): Education is a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools and teachers in the country are under the administrative control of the State Governments and UT Administrations. The States/UTs play pivotal role in conceptualization, implementation and realization of schemes at the grass root level. The Government of India supports the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir through various schemes and initiatives to strengthen the school and higher education sectors. In this regard, key initiatives include Samagra Shiksha Scheme, an integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for school education covering pre-school to Class XII; Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI), aimed at developing exemplar schools aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020; and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) for strengthening infrastructure, including construction of hostels, academic and administrative buildings, laboratories and other facilities required for improving access and quality in higher education. These schemes are being implemented in coordination with the UT Administration to enhance infrastructure, promote inclusive and equitable education, and improve overall learning outcomes across the region, including in rural, tribal and border areas.Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education has launched the third phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in June 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore for the period 2023- 24 to 2025-26 to cater to needs of educationally unserved/ underserved areas. Under PM- USHA scheme, a total of 74 units have been approved in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir with a total approved amount of Rs. 706.41 crore. Of this, the Central share is Rs. 636.56 crore, against which an amount of Rs. 406.73 crore has been released to the UT (as on 20.03.2026). A statement showing details of funds allocated, released and utilized under Samagra Shiksha from 2020-2021 to 2024-25 & approved outlay, approved central share and central share released & utilized under PM SHRI from 2023-24 (commencement of the scheme) to 2025-26 is at Annexure-I. Under the Centrally Sponsored schemes like Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI, States and UTs are supported for strengthening of existing government schools, and for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities like Additional Classrooms, Toilets for Boys/Girls/CWSN, Drinking Water, Electricity, Boundary Walls, Library, ICT and Digital Classrooms, based on the gaps determined from Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database and proposals received from respective State/UT. The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory on incremental basis depending on their need and priority and reflected in their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved/estimated by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and Union Territories as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme, physical and financial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources. Digital initiatives are promoted through DIKSHA, and broadband connectivity to Government secondary schools in rural areas has been announced under BHARATNET. To address teacher vacancies, States and Union Territories are advised to undertake transparent and merit-based recruitment. Further, to enable systematic monitoring and tracking, Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) have been established at the Central, State, and UT levels, which are based on real-time data integration and coordinated monitoring of key educational indicators. ****Annexure-I STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (C) OF THE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3727 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 ASKED BY SHRI GULAM ALI, HON’BLE MP REGARDING ‘CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN JAMMU & KASHMIR’. Details of funds allocated, released and utilized under Samagra Shiksha from 2020-2021 to 2024-25 (₹ in crore) Financial Proposed Central Central Release Expenditure including Year Releases State share 2020-21 1472.13 385.57 1183.39 2021-21 1320.21 873.98 770.90 2022-23 1650.59 364.97 1275.28 2023-24 1736.49 865.43 1106.56 2024-25 1721.60 823.49 935.20 * as per PRABANDH portal Details of approved outlay, approved central share and central share released & utilized under PM SHRI from 2023-24 (commencement of the scheme) to 2025-26 (₹ in crore) Central Share of Financial Total central share Approved PAB outlay Approved PAB Year released & utilized outlay 2023-24 116.43 104.79 52.40 2024-25 280.76 252.68 99.72 2025-26 277.07 249.36 11.65 * Note- Outlay funds include Committed Liability. *(as on 20.03.2026) ****