Parliament Question: PM SHRI scheme in Himachal Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2906 ANSWERED ON – 18/03/2026 PM SHRI scheme in Himachal Pradesh 2906 # Ms. Indu Bala Goswami: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the objectives of the PM SHRI scheme; (b) the number of schools selected under the PM SHRI scheme in Himachal Pradesh, details thereof, district-wise; and (c) whether schools themselves apply for the PM SHRI scheme, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a): Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) is a centrally sponsored scheme which aims to strengthen more than 14,500 schools across the country out of which 13,091 schools have been selected as PM SHRI schools from 33 States/UTs along with KVS/NVS/NCERT. These PM SHRI schools showcase all the initiatives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, be the exemplar schools, and also offer benchmarking leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood. They provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020. In alignment with the National Education Policy, 2020, PM SHRI scheme has a provision to saturate these PM SHRI schools with 21 NEP components such as computer lab/ICT lab/smart classrooms, library with good furniture, internet facility, vocational skill education, guidance and career counselling, fully equipped integrated science lab/physics lab/chemistry lab/biology lab, playground with well-equipped sports facilities, school innovation council, youth and eco club for mission life, Building as Learning Aid (BaLa) features and jaadui pitara for primary school children, 10 bagless days for students, child tracking software for tracking the children attendance, fully functioning handwashing facility and toilets, green school features etc. These PM SHRI schools are to showcase all the initiatives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, be the exemplar schools, and also offer benchmarking leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood. (b): Under PM SHRI scheme, a total of 199 PM SHRI schools have been selected from the State of Himachal Pradesh. The number of PM SHRI schools selected in the State of Himachal Pradesh, district -wise is attached as Annexure. Further, the details of PM SHRI schools may be accessed on the website of PM SHRI scheme at the link: https://pmshri.education.gov.in/state.(c): Under PM SHRI scheme, selection of PM SHRI schools is through Challenge Mode wherein Schools compete for support to become exemplar schools. Selection is done through a three-stage process with definite time lines, which is as follows: - Stage-1: States/UTs sign an MoU with Centre laying down the commitments for supporting these schools for achieving specified quality assurance as PM SHRI schools. Stage-2: In this stage, a pool of schools that are eligible to be selected as PM SHRI Schools are identified based on prescribed minimum benchmark through UDISE+ data. These benchmarks are automatically populated from UDISE+ portal based on the latest data. The minimum benchmarks that the school fulfils are as follows: i. The school should have its own pucca building in good condition. ii. Barrier free access -Ramp. iii. The school must be safety oriented. iv. The enrolment of students at Elementary (Class 1-5/1-8) level and Senior Secondary (Class 6-12/ 6-10/ 1-10/ 1-12) level must be more than the state average enrolment, for the category. v. The school should have at least one separate toilet each for boys & girls. vi. The school must have potable drinking water facility. vii. The school must have separate hand washing facility. viii. All teachers should have Photo ID Card as per extant guidelines. ix. Electricity supply should be in working condition. x. School should have Library/library corner facilities and Sports equipment. Stage-3: This stage is based on the challenge method for fulfilling certain criteria. Schools in urban areas need to score a minimum of 70%, whereas schools in rural areas need to score a minimum of 60% to be selected as PM SHRI Schools. Fulfilment of conditions has to be certified by States/UTs through physical inspection. States/UTs recommend the list of schools to the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of India after district verification. An Expert committee headed by Secretary (DoSE&L), at DoSE&L, has been constituted to make the final school selection through challenge method. *****Annexure ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2906 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 ASKED BY MS. INDU BALA GOSWAMI, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING “PM SHRI SCHEME IN HIMACHAL PRADESH” The number of PM SHRI schools selected in the State of Himachal Pradesh, district -wise is as follows: S. NO. District Number of PM SHRI schools 1 BILASPUR 9 CHAMBA 16 2 3 HAMIRPUR 17 4 KANGRA 30 5 KINNAUR 3 6 KULLU 15 7 LAHUL AND SPITI 2 8 MANDI 30 SHIMLA 24 9 10 SIRMAUR 15 11 SOLAN 21 12 UNA 17 Total 199 *****