Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a question in Lok Sabha regarding the implementation of Section 12 1c of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, specifically addressing reimbursement claims by states and union territories. It provides details on the reimbursement process under the Samagra Shiksha program, clarifies Bihar's lack of claims, and includes an annexure detailing state-wise reimbursement claims and approvals from 2022-2025. The information was presented on July 21, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **RTE Act, 2009 & Reimbursement:**
* Section 12 1c of the RTE Act, 2009, concerns reimbursement to Private Unaided Schools for admitting children under the act.
* Section 12 2 of the RTE Act, 2009, provides for reimbursement to the Private Unaided Schools for admitting children under Section 12 1c.
* **Samagra Shiksha Program:**
* The centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha program supports the RTE Act by reimbursing expenditures incurred by States/UTs.
* States/UTs must first use their own funds for reimbursements under Section 12 1c.
* States/UTs then claim reimbursement from the Centre in their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB).
* The Project Approval Board (PAB) in the Ministry of Education approves claims based on document submission and financial norms.
* **Bihar's Reimbursement Status:**
* The State Government of Bihar has not claimed reimbursement under Section 12 1c in their AWPB for the last three financial years, according to the PRABANDH portal.
* **State/UT Reimbursement Details (2022-2025):**
* An annexure provides a state-wise breakdown of the total amount claimed and approved under Section 12 1c of the RTE Act for the years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments and Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* States and UTs are responsible for initially funding reimbursements to private schools under Section 12 1c of the RTE Act. Their financial burden is potentially alleviated through the Samagra Shiksha program.
* *Action Required:* States and UTs need to accurately document and submit their expenditure claims in their Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) to the Ministry of Education for reimbursement consideration by the Project Approval Board (PAB).
* **Private Unaided Schools:**
* *Impact:* Private Unaided Schools that admit children under Section 12 1c of the RTE Act are entitled to receive reimbursement for the expenses incurred.
* *Action Required:* Private Unaided Schools should work with their respective State Governments and Union Territories to ensure that claims for reimbursement are accurately submitted and processed in a timely manner.
* **Ministry of Education (Project Approval Board):**
* *Impact:* The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the RTE Act and the Samagra Shiksha program.
* *Action Required:* The Ministry of Education must review and approve reimbursement claims submitted by States and UTs, ensuring compliance with programmatic and financial norms. They must also take steps to encourage effective implementation of Section 12 1c of RTE Act across all States and UTs, especially in States like Bihar which have not yet claimed reimbursements
Key Entities Referenced
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education RTE Act, 2009: A national law in India that mandates free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 years.
Section 121c of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education RTE Act, 2009: A specific section of the RTE Act 2009, related to reimbursement to private unaided schools for admitting children.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme for school education in India.
Project Approval Board PAB: A board within the Ministry of Education responsible for approving claims related to Samagra Shiksha.
Bihar: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of not claiming reimbursements under the RTE Act.
Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy: A Member of Parliament (MP) who asked the question related to RTE Act reimbursements.
PRABANDH portal: An online portal used to track the financial aspects of the RTE Act implementation, specifically mentioned as the source for data on reimbursement claims.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 51
ANSWERED ON 21ST JULY, 2025
RTE Act, 2009
51. Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the State Government of Bihar has not submitted any reimbursement
claims under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education
(RTE) Act, 2009, during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details along with the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of States and Union Territories that have claimed reimbursement under Section
12(1)(c) during the last three years along with the amount sanctioned and released, year-wise
and State/UT-wise; and
(d) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of Section
12(1)(c) of RTE Act across all States and UTs, especially in States like Bihar which have not
yet claimed reimbursements?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d): Section 12(2) of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)
Act, 2009 provides for reimbursement to the Private Unaided Schools for admitting children
under Section 12(1)(c) of the said Act. In order to encourage effective implementation of
aforesaid provision of the RTE Act, 2009, the Centrally sponsored ‘Samagra Shiksha’ provides
for reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by States/UTs. As per the programmatic and
financial norms of Samagra Shiksha, the States/UTs are required to first incur expenditure from
the State funds towards reimbursement under section 12(1)(c) of the Act. Thereafter,
States/UTs are to claim the funds for reimbursement from the Centre in their respective Annual
Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). Based on their proposal, the Project Approval Board (PAB)
in the Ministry of Education approves the claim subject to, amongst other things, mandatory
submission of the requisite documents in support of the claim and other programmatic &
financial norms of the scheme. The State Government of Bihar has not claimed reimbursement
of expenditure incurred under aforesaid provision of RTE Act, 2009 in their AWP&B during
the last three financial years as per PRABANDH portal.The details of States and Union Territories that have claimed reimbursement of
expenditure incurred for implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act during the last
three years along with the amount claimed and approved in the AWP&B, year-wise and
State/UT-wise is given in the Annexure.
****Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 51 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 ASKED BY HON’BLE
MP SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY REGARDING RTE ACT, 2009
Total Amount Claimed and Approved under Section 12(1)C of the RTE Act, 2009-Statewise
(Rs. in Lakh)
S. 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
State
No Claimed Approved Claimed Approved Claimed Approved
Andhra
1 0.00 0.00 98976758.00 0.00 16171452.00 0.00
Pradesh
2 Chandigarh 51.93 15.00 418.24 103.86 161.73 88.78
3 Chhattisgarh 11453.91 7789.36 9710.02 9051.33 11086.49 13193.92
Daman and
4 44.30 23.14 41.40 37.53 71.90 66.55
Diu
5 Delhi 12053.36 7932.71 10359.81 6994.61 11229.94 10068.39
6 Gujarat 41252.46 33091.92 58217.51 42252.48 64972.18 41140.44
Himachal
7 13.82 13.82 15.89 15.75 40.71 40.71
Pradesh
8 Jharkhand 1080.08 692.17 793.92 679.68 931.36 931.36
9 Karnataka 20000.23 19180.60 20000.00 20000.00 20000.00 20000.00
10 Manipur 0.00 0.00 0.00 33.71 33.71
0.00
Madhya
11 34298.11 34289.00 38157.18 40435.04 40433.75
Pradesh
38178.07
12 Maharashtra 15000.00 4290.96 12000.00 7675.43 13875.00 30847.19
13 Odisha 150.01 130.43 1520.24 664.15 2185.21 2157.84
14 Rajasthan 12747.98 17044.89 51877.49 46356.88 55089.05 55089.05
15 Tamil Nadu 37543.13 23919.17 22032.75 21091.79 26630.24 25617.15
16 Tripura 3.17 3.17 12.31 10.26 135.20 75.53
Uttar
17 385.77 243.07 9046.86 30832.00 30830.35
Pradesh 12363.39
18 Uttarakhand 12139.65 10033.43 13690.40 11843.66 15434.17 13484.37
Source: PRABANDH