While neighbouring states Kerala and Tamil Nadu continue to oppose the Centre’s PM Shri (PM Schools for Rising India) initiative, Karnataka has embraced the scheme, with 585 schools already approved under it. The state may soon add five more schools if the Union Education Ministry reopens the approval process.
The PM Shri scheme, the Centre’s flagship education initiative, aims to establish around 14,500 model schools across India to put the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) into practice. The focus is on upgrading infrastructure, pedagogy, and overall educational quality to create exemplary model institutions.
Karnataka, which was also the first state to implement the NEP in higher education, signed up early for the PM Shri project. A total of 590 schools were proposed in six phases, and 585 received approval, while five were left out in the seventh phase due to technical issues during document uploads.
The Union Ministry of Education has orally indicated that an eighth phase may open soon, allowing Karnataka to resubmit the pending proposals. The first set of schools was approved in 2023–24, followed by the next batch in 2024–25.
Funding and Implementation
The approved 585 schools, enrolling over two lakh students, have received a total allocation of ₹546 crore, of which ₹230.5 crore has already been released.
Under the scheme:
- Primary schools will receive ₹30–35 lakh over five years.
- Secondary and higher secondary schools will get up to ₹1.3 crore.
- Funding is shared 60:40 between the Centre and the state.
The funds can be used across 110 activities, including hiring guest faculty, setting up ICT infrastructure, solar panels, science parks, language labs, and promoting music, dance, and arts.
Performance and Challenges
Despite infrastructural upgrades, academic outcomes remain a concern. The SSLC results from PM Shri schools are below the state average — while Karnataka’s overall pass rate stands at 66%, PM Shri schools reported around 62%, based on data from 1,100 students in 153 schools.
A PM Shri school head said the concerns of opposing states stem from fears of central interference via NEP-linked conditions, but clarified that Karnataka schools have faced no such directives so far.
“We follow the same curriculum as state-run schools. Apart from mandatory events like the ‘buildathon’ competition, there are no additional diktats from the Centre,” the school head said.
PM Shri Schools in Bengaluru
| Region | No. of Schools |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru Rural | 9 |
| Bengaluru North | 6 |
| Bengaluru South | 10 |
Approved PM Shri Schools in Karnataka
| Category | No. of Schools |
|---|---|
| Classes 1–5 | 12 |
| Classes 1–7 | 166 |
| Classes 1–8 | 254 |
| Classes 1–10 | 108 |
| Classes 6–10 | 41 |
| PU Colleges | 3 |
| Classes 1–12 | 1 |
| Total | 585 |