**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the zero fund allocation to Kerala under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme. The response details the financial assistance provided to States and UTs, the alignment of SSA with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and specific fund releases to Kerala. Kerala signed the PM-SHRI MoU in October 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Scheme Information:**
* Education is in the concurrent list, with schools primarily under State and UT control.
* Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented in partnership with States and UTs.
* Financial aid is given based on norms and State/UT Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B), which are approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB).
* Funds are provided according to scheme norms and Ministry of Finance guidelines.
* There is no provision for carrying forward pending recurring activities, but pending non-recurring activities are allowed in the following year.
* **Fund Allocation and Releases to Kerala:**
* A first installment of Rs. 92.41 Crore has been released to the State of Kerala for FY 2025-26 out of the Central Share of Rs. 452.04 Crore.
* Release of the balance Central Share is dependent on compliance with scheme criteria and Ministry of Finance guidelines.
* **Alignment with NEP 2020 and PM-SHRI:**
* Samagra Shiksha is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
* The PM-SHRI scheme aims to showcase the implementation of NEP 2020 and develop exemplar schools.
* Kerala signed the MoU for PM SHRI in October 2025.
* Kerala is yet to complete the process for school selection under the PM SHRI Scheme.
* The document encourages Kerala to implement NEP 2020 initiatives under the PM-SHRI Scheme to develop exemplar schools.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Kerala State Government**
* **Impact:** Kerala has received partial funding under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for FY 2025-26, but the release of the remaining funds is contingent on compliance with established criteria.
* **Action Required:** Kerala needs to comply with the scheme's release criteria and the Ministry of Finance guidelines to secure the balance of the allocated funds. Additionally, they are encouraged to fully implement NEP 2020 and participate actively in the PM-SHRI scheme.
**Stakeholder: Students in Kerala**
* **Impact:** Funding availability impacts the resources and implementation of educational programs under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM-SHRI scheme.
* **Action Required:** The full benefit depends on effective implementation of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme and PM-SHRI scheme and full funding.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: A centrally sponsored scheme for school education implemented in partnership with states and UTs, providing financial assistance based on approved plans.
Kerala: Indian state, recipient of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, subject of fund withholding and subsequent release.
PM-SHRI: Scheme to showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar schools.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A national-level policy; the Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI schemes are aligned with it.
Ministry of Education: Union ministry responsible for administering the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and related schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 276
ANSWERED ON 02/02/2026
Zero Fund Allocation to Kerala under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
276. Shri K Sudhakaran:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has withheld funds due to Kerala under the Samagra Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA) scheme for the financial years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the legal justification for linking the release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
(launched in 2018), which is aimed at fulfilling the Right to Education Act, to the signing of
the PM-SHRI Memorandum of Understanding (launched in 2022); and
(c) whether the Government is aware that despite Kerala signing the PM-SHRI MoU in
October, 2025 to secure these funds, only a nominal installment of Rs. 92.41 crore was
released in November, 2025 following Supreme Court intervention, leaving a massive
funding gap for 45 lakh students and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools
are under the domain of respective State and UT Governments. The Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of Samagra Shiksha is implemented 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 by Project Approval Board
(PAB) in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms
of the scheme. Financial assistance under Samagra Shiksha is provided to all States and
Union Territories for various interventions in accordance with the norms of the Scheme and
the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance from time to time.
As per the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, there is no provision for carrying forward
pending recurring activities from the previous financial year. However, pending non-
recurring activities at the end of a financial year are allowed to be taken up in thesubsequent financial year as committed liabilities based on demands submitted by the
concerned State/UTs.
The Central Share allocation and fund releases during the last three years is as follows:
(Rs. in crore)
Total Expenditure
Central Share of the Actual Central Share
Year including Central
approved outlay Released
and State Share
2023-24 328.83 141.06 431.14
2024-25 328.90 0.00 251.37
2025-26 452.04 92.41* 227.11
*As on 29.01.2026
The scheme of Samagra Shiksha has been aligned with the National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of PM-SHRI envisages to showcase
the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar schools
over a period of time, and also offer leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood.
Kerala signed the MoU for PM SHRI in October, 2025. Kerala is yet to complete the process
for school selection under PM SHRI Scheme.
An amount of Rs. 92.41 Crore has been released to the State of Kerala as 1st
instalment during current financial year out of Central Share of Rs. 452.04 Crore allocated
for FY 2025-26. The balance Central Share is released to the State subject to compliance
with release criteria of the scheme and guidelines of Ministry of Finance issued from time to
time.
Since, the State of Kerela is implementing Samagra Shiksha Scheme which has
been aligned with NEP 2020, it would be appropriate that the States come forward to
implement and showcase all the initiatives of NEP 2020 including under PM SHRI Scheme
in order to develop government schools of the States as exemplar schools to facilitate best
school education services. In fact, implementation of Samagra Shiksha Scheme is
implementation of NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Schools are exemplar schools of NEP 2020.
*****