India’s school-education system is steadily moving beyond the traditional emphasis on infrastructure and enrolment towards learning outcomes, inclusion, creativity, skills and employability. At the centre of this transition is the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, designed to transform more than 14,500 existing government schools into exemplar institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Creating Schools That Lead by Example
Launched on September 7, 2022, PM SHRI carries a total outlay of ₹27,360 crore for 2022-23 to 2026-27, including a central share of ₹18,128 crore. By July 2026, 13,092 schools—around 90% of the target—had been selected across all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 725 districts and 8,340 blocks or urban local bodies. The network is expected to directly benefit more than 20 lakh students.
The larger objective, however, is not to create a small group of privileged schools. PM SHRI schools are intended to become demonstration centres whose successful practices can be replicated through mentoring, collaboration and school clustering across India’s vast public-education network.
Moving From Rote Learning to Real-World Skills
PM SHRI translates several NEP 2020 principles into classroom practice. Its adoption of the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure encourages child-centred, inquiry-driven and competency-based learning rather than excessive dependence on memorisation.
Projects, experiments, arts, sports and vocational exposure are intended to connect academic concepts with everyday life. Bagless days and internships with local artisans can expose students to traditional skills, local occupations and indigenous knowledge. In foundational education, play- and toy-based learning can make literacy and numeracy more engaging.
This approach recognises that future employability will increasingly depend on problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and continuous learning.
Inclusion And Language at The Core
PM SHRI combines excellence with equity. Schools are expected to provide barrier-free infrastructure, safe learning environments and support for children with diverse social, linguistic and learning needs.
Multilingual education is another important component. UDISE+ 2025-26 data records 6,102 Sanskrit teachers, 1,994 Urdu teachers and 9,152 regional-language teachers in PM SHRI schools. Such provisions can help make mother-tongue and regional-language learning more practical, particularly during the foundational years.
Technology Must Strengthen, Not Replace, Teaching
Smart classrooms, internet connectivity, ICT infrastructure, STEM programmes and digital learning resources are designed to expand educational opportunities. Platforms such as DIKSHA can support teachers and students with accessible digital content.
But technology alone cannot transform classrooms. Reliable electricity, connectivity, teacher training and locally relevant content remain essential if digital tools are to produce meaningful learning outcomes.
Selection Quality and The Equity Question
PM SHRI schools are selected through a three-stage Challenge Mode involving state-level agreements, eligibility assessment using UDISE+ data, challenge-based evaluation and physical verification. Assessment covers infrastructure, pedagogy, learning outcomes, vocational education, green initiatives and stakeholder commitment.
The model can raise standards, but it also presents a challenge: schools with stronger existing capacity may find it easier to qualify, while the most disadvantaged institutions may require greater preparatory support.
From Model Schools to A Model Education System
PM SHRI’s ultimate success cannot be measured by the number of schools selected or smart classrooms created. Its real test will be whether better teaching, stronger learning outcomes and greater inclusion spread beyond the selected campuses.
If sustained funding, teacher capacity, state ownership and transparent monitoring remain central, PM SHRI can become more than an infrastructure programme. It can provide India with a practical pathway towards an education system where every child is equipped not merely to pass examinations, but to participate, innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing future.
(With agency inputs)
