Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 713 regarding the upskilling of Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). It provides details on the number of operational, newly established, and under-construction EMRSs, initiatives for incorporating new-age skills, challenges in managing these schools, teacher recruitment considerations, and future expansion plans. Data is current as of July 15, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
EMRS Status:
- 479 EMRSs are currently functional across the country.
- 73 EMRSs were made functional in the last year (2024-25).
- 235 EMRSs are currently under construction.
- The state-wise breakdown of these numbers is provided in Annexure I.
Upskilling Initiatives:
- Skill-based subjects are being introduced as per CBSE guidelines.
- Free digital coaching is offered for competitive exams like IIT-JEE and NEET.
- Smart classrooms equipped with digital boards are being provisioned.
- The Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) program is implemented in 430 EMRSs.
- 400 Skill Labs are being set up in 200 EMRSs in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE).
- A dedicated DTH TV channel, EKLAVYA Channel No. 32, provides curriculum-based learning and competitive exam content.
Management and Operation:
- The EMRS scheme was revamped in 2018, transforming EMRSs into a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded and managed by the central government.
- Collaboration with State Tribal Welfare Departments.
- Regular review meetings with construction agencies and State EMRS Societies.
- Central Recruitment of Staff.
- Regular training programs and workshops for teachers and administrative staff.
- Adequate financial allocations and timely disbursement of funds.
- Periodic reviews and inspections.
- Introduction of CBSE curriculum, digital tools, and regular training.
Teacher Recruitment:
- Priority is given to ST female candidates (excluding their home district), followed by ST male candidates, and then all female candidates.
- Local language competency is imparted through training and language teachers.
- Recruited candidates are required to pass the regional language competency requirement of the State during the probation period.
- Regional language teachers are recruited.
Future Expansion:
- The central government has approved 728 EMRSs across the country.
- 722 schools are sanctioned.
- No expansion plan for EMRS is currently under consideration.
Impact Analysis:
State Tribal Welfare Departments:
Impact: Involved in resolving issues related to land allocation, infrastructure, and recruitment.
Action Required: Collaborate with the central government to address these issues effectively.
Construction Agencies and State EMRS Societies:
Impact: Responsible for the construction of EMRS buildings and related facilities.
Action Required: Participate in regular review meetings to address bottlenecks and accelerate construction.
Teachers and Administrative Staff:
Impact: Require adequate training and resources to effectively run the schools.
Action Required: Participate in training programs and workshops to enhance capabilities.
Students:
Impact: Benefit from improved infrastructure, curriculum, digital tools, and teacher quality.
Action Required: Utilize available resources and participate actively in learning opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): A network of schools for tribal students in India, the primary focus of the policy document.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the EMRS and related initiatives.
SHRI TEJASVI SURYA: Member of Parliament who raised the question about EMRS in Lok Sabha.
SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY: Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education, the curriculum followed by EMRS.
Amazon Future Engineer (AFE): A program aimed at enhancing access to computer science education, implemented in some EMRSs.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE): A government body collaborating with EMRS to provide vocational training.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the states in India with Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24/07/2025
UPSKILLING OF EMRS
713.SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) currently operational, the number of
such schools established during the last one year and the number of schools under-construction in the
country, State-wise;
(b) whether the Government is considering the inclusion of new-age skills and technology-based learning
modules in the curriculum of EMRS and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the major challenges faced by the Government in the operation and management of these schools and
the steps being taken to overcome them;
(d) whether the recruitment of teachers takes into account the geographical and socio-cultural context to
ensure empathy towards local tribal communities and effective communication with students and if so, the
details thereof along with the measures adopted in this regard; and
(e) the details of the current and future expansion plans for EMRS including the number of proposed
schools and the targeted States or districts?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) The state-wise status of Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) currently operational, the number
of such schools established during the last one year and the number of schools under-construction in the
country is at Annexure-I.
(b) The Ministry is implementing several initiatives in collaboration with other government bodies to
provide tribal students with access to digital and skill-based education. These initiatives include:
i. Directions have been issued to schools to introduce skill-based subjects as per CBSE guidelines,
including Information Technology, Agriculture, Marketing and Sales, Beauty and Wellness, Data
Science etc.
ii. Initiatives have been introduced to offer free, high-quality digital coaching for competitive exams
such as IIT-JEE and NEET, providing online classes and academic support to tribal students to
enhance their preparedness and improve their prospects of securing admission to premier
engineering and medical institutions across the country.
iii. Provision of Smart classrooms equipped with digital boards in partnership with ERNET, Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
iv. The Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing
access to computer science education for undeserved and underrepresented communities.
Learning Links Foundation (LLF) has implemented the AFE program in 430 EMRSs to providehands-on computer science education through interactive modules like the Hour of Code and
Code-a-thon, students gain essential skills in programming and problem solving.
v. Set-up of 400 Skill Labs in 200 EMRSs in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) to provide hands-on vocational training and industry-relevant
skills to students.
vi. A dedicated DTH TV channel – EKLAVYA (Channel No. 32), has been developed by CIET-
NCERT, exclusively for EMRS students, which provides curriculum-based learning and
competitive exam content for Classes 9th to 12th, ensuring uninterrupted access to quality
educational resources even in remote locations.
(c) Till the year 2018-19, EMRSs were managed by state governments under the scheme of Grants-in-
Aid through Article 275(1) of the Constitution.Thereafter, the scheme was revamped in 2018. The
revamped scheme transformed EMRSs into a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded and managed by the
central government for streamlined governance and uniformity. The Government has undertaken
several steps for effective implementation of EMRS Scheme, which includes the following:-
(i) Collaboration with State Tribal Welfare Departments for resolving issues related to land
allocation, infrastructure, and recruitment.
(ii) Regular review meetings with construction agencies and State EMRS Societies to address
bottlenecks in construction and accelerate construction of EMRS buildings and related facilities.
(iii) Central Recruitment of Staff is conducted to fill vacancies for teaching and non-teaching staff,
ensuring adequate personnel to run the schools effectively.
(iv) Regular training programs and workshops for teachers and administrative staff to enhance their
capabilities.
(v) Adequate financial allocations and timely disbursement of funds to address resource-related
delays.
(vi) Establishment of a system of periodic reviews and inspections to address challenges and ensure
smooth functioning.
(vii) Introduction of CBSE curriculum, digital tools, and regular training for improving academic
quality and uniformity in teaching standards.
(d) For the recruitment of teachers, Priority is given for posting against the available vacancies in the
particular state as follows :-
(i) a) ST Female candidates are given home state (excluding their home district)
b) ST Male candidates are considered next
c) All Females are considered next(ii) Arrangement is made to impart local language competency through language teachers available at
schools/training. Recruited Candidates are also required to pass the regional language competency
requirement of the State during the probation period. This will ensure better communication with students.
(iii) Regional language teachers are also recruited.
(e) The central government has approved 728 EMRSs all across the country. As on date 722 schools are
sanctioned and 479 schools are functioning. At present, no expansion plan for EMRS is under
consideration.
*****Annexure I
Annexure I as referred in part (a) of the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred question No. 713 raised by
Shri Tejasvi Surya regarding “Upskilling of EMRS”.
State wise details of EMRSs
S.No. State No. of EMRSs EMRSs have been made EMRS under
functional as on functional in 2024-25 construction as on
15.07.2025 15.07.2025
1 Andhra Pradesh 28 - 7
2 Arunachal Pradesh 5 - 3
3 Assam 1 - 6
4 Bihar 2 2 1
5 Chhattisgarh 75 1 21
6 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1 -
and Daman & Diu 1
7 Gujarat 38 4 11
8 Himachal Pradesh 4 - 1
9 Jammu & Kashmir 6 - 3
10 Jharkhand 51 44 34
11 Karnataka 12 - 0
12 Kerala 4 - 1
13 Ladakh - - 0
14 Madhya Pradesh 63 - 18
15 Maharashtra 37 - 15
16 Manipur 5 - 12
17 Meghalaya - - 13
18 Mizoram 11 5 2
19 Nagaland 3 - 19
20 Odisha 47 15 50
21 Rajasthan 30 - 1
22 Sikkim 4 - 0
23 Tamil Nadu 8 - 1
24 Telangana 23 - 3
25 Tripura 6 - 10
26 Uttar Pradesh 3 1 0
27 Uttarakhand 4 - 2
28 West Bengal 8 1 0
Grand Total 479 73 235
*****