HYDERABAD: A total of 832 schools, including 38 Union government institutions, have been selected from Telangana under the PM SHRI scheme till March 25 this year. The Ministry of Education, in response to a question raised by MPs from Telangana, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, said that the 38 Union government schools comprise 29 Kendriya Vidyalayas and nine Navodaya Vidyalayas.
According to the reply, around Rs 116.06 crore, including Central and state share, has been utilised under the scheme. Approved on September 7, 2022, fund release for Telangana began in 2023-24. In Phase 1 (2023-24), 543 schools were selected based on enrolment and community participation, receiving support for vocational training, science and maths activities, career counselling and classroom upgrades. In Phase 2, 251 more schools were added.
For 2026, a total of 832 schools have been selected, with Rs 422.54 crore approved for the year.
The scheme also includes initiatives such as school innovation councils, youth and eco clubs for Mission LiFE, Building as Learning Aid (BaLa), ‘Jaadui Pitara’ for primary students, 10 bagless days, child tracking software, and improved sanitation and green school features.
The Ministry said PM SHRI schools have achieved 91% saturation in these components and are intended to serve as model institutions under NEP 2020 while guiding neighbouring schools.