Executive Summary:
In response to a parliamentary inquiry, the Ministry of Education provided a statement on 28.07.2025 regarding the introduction of smart classrooms in rural schools, including those in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The statement details the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which supports the establishment of smart classrooms. It also addresses challenges and mitigation strategies, including broadband connectivity and digital literacy programs.
Key Points / Main Content:
Samagra Shiksha Scheme:
• Implemented since 2018-19, envisaging school education from preschool to Grade 12.
• Aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education as per the National Education Policy 2020.
• Smart Classroom component covers Government and Aided schools (Classes VI to XII).
• Provides financial assistance to States/UTs for establishing Smart Classrooms with equipment like interactive digital boards, screens, printers, scanners, and laptops/tablets/desktops.
Financial Provisions:
• Non-recurring grant: Rs. 2.40 lakh (for 2 smart classrooms per school).
• Recurring grant: Rs. 38,000 (including E-Content, Digital Resources, and Electricity charges).
Smart Classroom Approvals:
• 1,46,040 Smart Classrooms approved across the country until 31.05.2025.
• Includes 5,155 in Maharashtra, 9,531 in Madhya Pradesh, and 192 in UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Challenges and Mitigation:
• Key challenges: Capacity building of teachers, Infrastructure setup, Uninterrupted internet connectivity.
• A supplementary Project Approval Board (PAB) was conducted for saturation of Smart Classrooms in 32 States/UTs.
• Broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools in rural areas under BharatNet project is planned.
• States/UTs advised to provide additional funds and digital access based on local needs.
Digital Initiatives:
• National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching platforms, virtual labs, and online assessments.
• Digital literacy programs extended to students, teachers, and stakeholders with funding under Samagra Shiksha.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/UT Administrations:
• Impact: Responsible for the administrative control of the majority of schools and can provide additional funding as per their requirements.
• Action Required: To communicate requirements in the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) and act based on local situations to meet the digital needs of students and teachers.
Teachers:
• Impact: Need to build capacity for effective use of smart classrooms and digital resources.
• Action Required: Participate in digital literacy programs and adapt teaching methods for online platforms.
Students:
• Impact: Will benefit from enhanced digital infrastructure and access to online resources.
• Action Required: Engage in digital literacy programs and utilize digital resources for learning.
Central Government (Ministry of Education):
• Impact: Responsible for providing funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
• Action Required: Continue to provide financial support and monitor the implementation of digital initiatives in schools.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha: An Integrated Scheme for School Education implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy from 2018-19, envisaging school education as a continuum from preschool to Grade 12.
National Education Policy 2020: A national policy document that guides the development of education in India. The Samagra Shiksha scheme aims to align with this policy.
Maharashtra: A state in India where smart classrooms are being introduced under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where smart classrooms are being introduced under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India where smart classrooms are being introduced under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN: The Minister of Education.
PRABANDH portal: A portal used to track the approval of Smart Classrooms across the country.
BharatNet project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to all Government secondary schools in rural areas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 102
ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025
Smart Class Rooms in Schools in Rural Areas
†* 102 Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram:
Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is taking steps to introduce smart class rooms in schools in rural areas in the
country particularly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has faced any hardships or identified hindrances in introducing such class
rooms in the country including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan proposed by the Government for
mitigating/removing such difficulties and hindrances?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 102 FOR 28.07.2025 ASKED BY HON’BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM AND SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI
REGARDING SMART CLASS ROOMS IN SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS.
(a) & (b): The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha – an
Integrated Scheme for School Education from 2018-19. It is an overarching programme envisaging the
‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school to Grade 12, running in the country including the rural areas.
The vision of the scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education in accordance with the
National Education Policy 2020.
Smart Classroom component of Samagra Shiksha covers Government and Aided schools having
classes VI to XII. Under this component financial assistance is provided to States/UTs including
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli for establishing Smart Classrooms in
schools which includes interactive Digital Board/display unit, Operating System (OS),
LCD/LED/plasma screen, printer, scanner, laptops/tablets/desktops etc.
Financial Provisions: The non-recurring grant for Smart Classrooms (2 smart classrooms per school) is
of Rs.2.40 lakh and the recurring grant is Rs.38000/- (including E Content and Digital Resources,
Charges for Electricity).
As per PRABANDH portal, a total of 1,46,040 Smart Classrooms have been approved across the
country till 31.05.2025, including 5,155 in State of Maharashtra, 9,531 in State of Madhya Pradesh and
192 in UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
(c) & (d): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under
the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Central Government
provides funds for digital initiatives component including Smart Classrooms under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme for School Education- Samagra Shiksha, on the basis of requirement communicated
by them in the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). However, the States/UTs are free to provide
additional funds as per their requirement.
The key challenges or limitation faced in implementing digital interventions such as Smart Class
are of Capacity Building of teachers, Infrastructure setup, Uninterrupted internet connectivity etc.
Based on the UDISE+ data and funds approved in Project Approval Board’s meetings (PAB) to
Stats/UTs for the year 2025-26, there were gaps identified in saturating smart classrooms and other
components in Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools in States/UTs. To address this gap, a
supplementary PAB was conducted for the saturation of these facilities in 32 States/UTs, including
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The Government of India, as part of the Budget 2025, has announced provision of broadband
connectivity to all Government secondary schools in rural areas under BharatNet project to enhance
digital infrastructure in remote areas.
The State/UT Governments have been advised to act based on the situation prevailing at every
place to meet the demands of students and teachers for providing them with the digital access required
for teaching learning digitally.
The National Education Policy 2020 calls for investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching
platforms and tools, virtual labs, digital repositories, online assessments, technology and pedagogy for
online teaching-learning etc., for which various initiatives have been taken. For school education, digital
literacy programs to students, teachers and all stakeholders have been extended with necessary funding
mechanisms under Samagra Shiksha for all States/UTs, in alignment with NEP 2020.
*****