**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of Education to Starred Question No. 207 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 15, 2025, regarding the timely release of funds to government schools. It addresses the number of school closures, pending funds, and measures taken to prevent future closures. The Minister states that the requested information is available on the table of the House and accessible online.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Question Focus:**
* The question asks about the number of government and government-aided schools that have closed in the past five years, reasons for closure, pending funds due to states under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan/Samagra Shiksha, and measures taken to ensure timely release of funds.
* **School Management:**
* Opening, closing, and rationalization of schools fall under the jurisdiction of respective State Government and UT Administration.
* **Data Source:**
* State/UT-wise data on the number of government and government-aided schools from 2020-21 to 2024-25 is available via UDISE+ at [https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques](https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques).
* **Samagra Shiksha Scheme:**
* The Department of School Education & Literacy implements the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha with States and UTs.
* Financial aid is provided to States and UTs for implementing interventions under Samagra Shiksha.
* Annual plans are prepared by States and UTs and approved/estimated by the Project Approval Board (PAB).
* **Fund Release Conditions:**
* Release of central share depends on submission of utilization certificates, audit reports, progress reports, state contributions, compliance with scheme norms and the NEP 2020.
* **Funding Details Availability:**
* State/UT-wise details of central share approved and released under Samagra Shiksha for the years 2023-24 to 2025-26 are available at [https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques](https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques).
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the opening, closing, and rationalization of schools within their jurisdiction. Their plans form the basis for central funding.
* **Action Required:** Prepare annual plans under Samagra Shiksha, ensure compliance with scheme norms, submit required documentation to receive central share.
**Department of School Education & Literacy**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, which provides financial assistance to States and UTs.
* **Action Required:** Appraise and approve/estimate the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B).
**Ministry of Education**
* **Impact:** Provides the answer to the question by laying a statement on the table of the House, detailing the availability of data regarding the questions by the member.
* **Action Required:** Present information on school closures, pending funds, and measures taken by the government.
**Government and Government Aided Schools**
* **Impact:** Directly impacted by the policies surrounding funding and school operations
* **Action Required:** Follow guidelines and policies set by the department.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha: Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy to provide financial assistance to States and UTs for various components related to education.
Department of School Education & Literacy: The department responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
UDISE+: Unified District Information System for Education Plus, used for reporting the number of Government and Government-aided schools.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Referenced policy document to which adherence is expected under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO – 207
ANSWERED ON 15/12/2025
Timely Release of Funds to Government Schools
*207. Shri K Radhakrishnan:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Government and Government-aided schools that have been shut down in the
country during the last five years and the reasons for such closures, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of the pending funds due to be released by the Central Government to all States including
Kerala under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan/Samagra Shiksha scheme during the last three years, State/UT
and year-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken any special measures to ensure timely release of funds to prevent
further closures of schools, especially in rural, tribal and educationally backward regions; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
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 PART (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 207 ANSWERED ON 15/12/2025 ASKED BY HONB’LE MP
SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN REGARDING ‘TIMELY RELEASE OF FUNDS TO
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS’
(a) to (d): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and the opening, closing and
rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and UT
Administration. As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus), State/UT-
wise number of Government and Government Aided schools, as reported by them from the year 2020-
21 to 2024-25, are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques.
The Department of School Education & Literacy is implementing the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of Samagra Shiksha in partnership with all the States and UTs. Financial assistance is
provided to all States and UTs for various components for implementation of the interventions under
Samagra Shiksha as per norms. Accordingly, the annual plans under Samagra Shiksha are prepared by
the States and UTs based on their requirements and priority and this is reflected in their respective
Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These plans are then appraised and approved/estimated 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 and adherence to the provisions of
National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
State/UT-wise details of Central Share approved by the Project Approval Board and the Central Share
released under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2023-24 to 2024-25 and Central Share released for 2025-
26 (as on date) is at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl_ques.
******