Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Sarkar Urges New Bengal Government to Implement PM SHRI Schools
In India, there is a special school program called PM SHRI.
It helps make government schools really good with smart classrooms, computers, science labs, and libraries.
The program was started on 7 September 2022 by the central government.
A former education minister named Subhas Sarkar says schools in Bengal should be part of this program.
Right now, Bengal has no PM SHRI schools at all.
In May, Bengal's new government signed an agreement to join the program.
Mr. Sarkar is asking the new government to start working on it quickly.
The older government in Bengal did not want to join the program before.
Bengal's new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, says the state will upgrade 81,000 schools with a big budget.
Children in Bengal could get a better education because of this.
Former Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar urged the new Bengal government to work sincerely on setting up PM SHRI schools.
Bengal currently has zero operational PM SHRI schools and formally joined the scheme on 15 May after an MoU was signed with the Union Ministry of Education in New Delhi.
The BJP claims the former Trinamool Congress regime stayed away from the scheme, citing concerns over state autonomy in education and funding disputes with the Centre.
PM SHRI, launched on 7 September 2022, aims to upgrade over 14,500 government schools nationwide into model institutions under NEP 2020.
Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state will upgrade 81,000 institutions, with an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore already announced.
- Who
- Former Lok Sabha MP and ex-Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar, Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and the Union Ministry of Education.
- What
- Sarkar urged the new Bengal government to sincerely implement PM SHRI schools, a scheme Bengal formally joined via an MoU on 15 May.
- When
- Almost three months after the Bengal government changed; the MoU was signed on 15 May and PM SHRI was launched on 7 September 2022.
- Where
- Bengal (India); the MoU was signed in New Delhi.
- Why
- To give Bengal's students the benefits of NEP 2020 and elevate the state's school education system to national standards.
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime
BJP-led Centre and the new Bengal government
Refusal to join PM SHRI
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime
The erstwhile TMC government stayed away from the PM SHRI scheme, citing concerns over state autonomy in education and funding disputes with the Centre.
BJP-led Centre and the new Bengal government
The BJP and Subhas Sarkar say the former government never liked to give passage to the scheme, leaving Bengal students without the true benefit of NEP 2020.
Pace of implementation
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime
The new Bengal government says it is set to upgrade 81,000 institutions and has already announced an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for the purpose.
BJP-led Centre and the new Bengal government
Sarkar says almost three months after the government change, the new government should start working on PM SHRI schools sincerely, as Bengal still has zero operational PM SHRI schools.
- Scheme
- PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India)
- Launch date
- 7 September 2022
- National target
- Upgrade over 14,500 government schools
- Bengal's PM SHRI schools
- 0 operational
- MoU signed
- 15 May, New Delhi, with the Union Ministry of Education
- Bengal institutions to be upgraded
- 81,000
- Allocation announced
- Rs 2,000 crore
- Key speaker
- Subhas Sarkar, former Lok Sabha MP and ex-MoS for Education