**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3968, addressed on August 18, 2025, regarding the release of education funds to the State of Tamil Nadu. The question inquired whether the Government of India was withholding ₹2,291 crore in education funds due to Tamil Nadu, and whether the government had received requests from the Tamil Nadu government to release the pending funds.
The Minister's response clarifies that funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Samagra Shiksha, are allocated based on the approval of Annual Work Plans & Budgets (AWPBs) by the Project Approval Board (PAB), adherence to the prescribed fund-sharing pattern, scheme guidelines, and the availability of funds. Release of the central share is contingent upon the submission of utilization certificates, audit reports for previously released funds, physical and financial progress reports, state contributions, and compliance with scheme norms.
The response further indicates that Samagra Shiksha is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. However, the Government of Tamil Nadu has not fully agreed to implement NEP 2020, opting instead to develop its own Tamil Nadu State Education Policy, 2025. This divergence from the national policy is a factor in fund allocation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: A ministry of the Government of India, responsible for education.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, recipient of education funds mentioned in the question.
Samagra Shiksha: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for school education in India.
National Education Policy, 2020: A comprehensive framework for education in India, approved in 2020.
Project Approval Board (PAB): The body responsible for approving Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs) under Samagra Shiksha.
Tamil Nadu State Education Policy, 2025: The state education policy being developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Jayant Chaudhary: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 3968
ANSWERED ON 18/08/2025
Education Fund to Tamil Nadu
3968. Dr. Ganapathy Rajkumar P:
Thiru Thanga Tamilselvan:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Government is not releasing and withheld the
education fund of Rs. 2,291 crore due to the State of Tamil Nadu;
(b) whether it is also a fact that the Government has received any requests from
Tamil Nadu Government to release the pending education funds to the State; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken or proposed to be taken by
the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Samagra Shiksha, funds are
allocated to States and Union Territories, including the State of Tamil Nadu, based
on the approval of the respective Annual Work Plans & Budgets (AWP&Bs) by the
Project Approval Board (PAB), and in accordance with the prescribed fund-sharing
pattern, guidelines, and availability of funds. The release of Central share depends
on the submission of the utilisation certificates, audit reports in respect of funds
released earlier, physical and financial progress reports, State contributions and
compliance with the scheme norms. The scheme is now fully aligned with the
National Education Policy, 2020. Hence, implementation of Samagra Shiksha is akin
to implementation of NEP, 2020. However, the Government of Tamil Nadu has not
agreed to implement NEP, 2020 in its entirety while bringing out its own Tamil Nadu
State Education Policy, 2025.
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