Kerala weighs PM SHRI funds against NEP concerns

The Story in Brief

Kerala’s newly elected United Democratic Front government is divided over whether to continue with the PM SHRI school scheme after the previous Left Democratic Front government signed an agreement with the Centre in October 2025. The Hindu reports that ₹1,158.13 crore in education funds is being held up, adding pressure on the State to proceed. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has offered changing explanations, while UDF leaders differ on whether implementation should await a Cabinet sub-committee report.

PM SHRI links funding to provisions of the National Education Policy, 2020. Kerala fears this could eventually affect curricula, teaching materials and assessments. It can reject the scheme, seek greater curriculum freedom from the Centre or pursue legal action, but each route carries political and financial costs.

The Indian Opinion

The lazy reading is that Kerala’s UDF has simply abandoned its opposition to the NEP, while the opposing claim is that the Centre is holding education funds hostage. Neither captures the policy choice. A signed agreement has consequences, but States also need safeguards over curricula and teaching methods. The government should publish the MoU, the pending funds and the sub-committee’s recommendations. The test is whether Kerala can secure written curriculum autonomy without losing the ₹1,158.13 crore.

Source: thehindu.com

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