SYLLABUS
GS-2: Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.
Context:
Recently, the Government of India approved 1.46 lakh smart classrooms across India under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.
More on the News
- As of May 31, 2025, a total of 1,46,040 smart classrooms have been approved out of which 86753 are functional across the country for school education under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.
- The non-recurring grant for Smart Classrooms (2 smart classrooms per school) is of Rs 2.40 lakh, and the recurring grant is Rs 38,000 (including e-content and digital resources, charges for electricity).
- As of May 31, 2025, a total of 1,56,213 Information and Communication Technology Labs have been approved out of which 1,14,552 are functional across the country.
- The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha
Samagra Shiksha Scheme
The Union Budget 2018–19 proposed a holistic approach to school education from pre-primary to Class XII. In response, the government launched the Samagra Shiksha scheme in 2018 as an integrated framework for school education.
The scheme has been continued for a period of five years with effect from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026.
The aim of the Scheme is to support States in universalising access to School Education from classes pre-nursery (pre-school) to Class XII.
The Scheme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of education through a single State Implementation Society (SIS) at the State/UT level.
The vision of the scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.
The Scheme is formed by merging three major schemes:
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – for elementary education.
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) – for secondary education.
- Teacher Education (TE) – for training and professional development of educators.
The scheme treats school education as a continuum and is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal for Education (SDG-4).
The scheme covers 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools (from pre-primary to senior secondary level) by involving all stakeholders of the school ecosystem
Fund Sharing Pattern under Samagra Shiksha
- The scheme follows a 90:10 funding ratio between the Centre and North-Eastern & Himalayan States.
- A 60:40 ratio applies to all other States and Union Territories with Legislature.
- For Union Territories without Legislature, the scheme is 100% centrally funded.
The major objectives of the scheme are:
- Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students
- Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education
- Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education
- Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions
- Promoting vocationalization of education
- Support States in the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009
- Strengthening and up-gradation of State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs)/State Institutes of Education and District
- Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as a nodal agency for teacher training
Significance of the scheme
- Supports Implementation of the RTE Act, 2009: It ensures every child receives free and compulsory education, reinforcing the constitutional mandate for universal schooling.
- Alignment with NEP 2020 for Holistic Education: It promotes equitable, inclusive, and quality education from pre-primary to senior secondary levels, with an emphasis on digital learning and systemic reforms.
- Fulfils Global Education Commitments (SDG-4): It contributes to SDG 4.1 by ensuring quality education for all and to SDG 4.5 by addressing gender and social disparities in access to education.
