Parliament Question: Funds for education to Himachal Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2103 ANSWERED ON 11/03/2026 Funds for education to Himachal Pradesh 2103 Shri Harsh Mahajan: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the year-wise amount of funds allocated by the Central Government to Himachal Pradesh during the last three years under various Central education-related schemes; (b) the amount actually utilized and the amount lapsed during the said period under these schemes in Himachal Pradesh, along with scheme-wise details thereof; (c) the number of Utilization Certificates submitted so far by Government of Himachal Pradesh to the Central Government under these schemes and the number pending, scheme-wise; and (d) the steps taken by the Central Government to ensure proper and timely utilization of funds allocated under education schemes in the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): Schemes of Samagra Shiksha, PM Shri School, PM Poshan, Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) and ULLAS are being implemented by the Ministry of Education. Under various schemes of this Department, the annual plans are prepared by the States and UTs based on their requirements and priorities. These plans are then appraised and approved by Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme. 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. Further Public Financial Management System (PFMS) system has been introduced by the Government under which State Government opened state Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts. The funds released by Central Government are transferred to SNA accountwhich ensures comprehensive monitoring and efficient usage. In the beginning of the financial year the instalment of the Central share is released not more than 25% of the amount earmarked for State for the financial year. Further instalments of Central Share are released after expenditure of 75% of the total available funds in the SNA account and compliance of the conditions of previous sanction. Moreover, Education is a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution, 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 a pivotal role in implementation of such schemes at the grass root level. No Utilization Certificate is pending from the State of Himachal Pradesh for the above- mentioned schemes. The central share allocation and central share released and fund utilized(both central and state share) to Himachal Pradesh during the last three years under various Central education – related schemes are as under: (Rs in crore) Scheme 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Approval Central Fund Approval Central Fund Approval Central Fund (Central Share Utilization (Central Share Utilization** (Central Share Utilization** Share) Releases Share) Releases Share) Releases Samagra 738.08 551.60 487.68 686.85 485.96 468.44 764.95 526.20 466.88 Shiksha STARS 330.18 175.12 36.93 224.12 53.66 111.25 272.41 175.80 185.63 PM Shri*** - - - - - - 135.35 135.35 74.01 ULLAS 1.87 - - 1.87 0.47 0.35 1.59 0.79 0.53 PM Poshan 107.27 138.02* 108.45 108.74 94.35 104.71 101.04 95.69 101.86 *Committed liability of Rs 30.75 crore for FY: 2021-22 was released in FY: 2022-23 ** as per the UC received from the State of Himachal Pradesh *** State of Himachal Pradesh signed the PM SHRI MoU on 04.03.2023 and subsequently, PM SHRI schools were selected in the 2nd phase of the selection process on 04.03.2024. Following the selection of schools, funds were approved by the PAB in FY 2024–25. Moreover, regular online/physical review meetings are conducted with the State/UTs from time to time for reviewing of educational schemes for effective implementation where any gaps identified based on the felt need and requirement are evaluated and approved as per extant procedure. *****