Odisha Gets 840 PM SHRI Schools as Centre Expands NEP-Linked Education Initiative

06 Aug 2026, 08:55 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

A total of 840 schools in Odisha have been selected under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative, the Union government informed the Rajya Sabha, underscoring the state’s growing participation in the flagship programme aimed at transforming existing government schools into model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Responding to an unstarred question in the Upper House, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said the PM SHRI scheme seeks to upgrade existing schools managed by the Central government, state governments, Union Territories and local bodies so they can serve as demonstration institutions showcasing the objectives and reforms envisaged under the NEP 2020.

According to the government, Odisha now has 840 PM SHRI schools, an increase from 762 schools reported in Parliament in July 2025, reflecting the continued expansion of the scheme in the state.

The Centre reiterated that schools are not selected automatically. State governments and Union Territories first recommend eligible institutions after district-level verification. The final selection is carried out through a challenge-based evaluation by an expert committee headed by the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education.

Nationally, the PM SHRI programme aims to strengthen more than 14,500 schools across the country. As of the latest update placed before Parliament, 13,092 schools have been selected across states, Union Territories and institutions run by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and NCERT.

The ministry also released state-wise data on teachers appointed for non-Hindi native languages in PM SHRI schools. Based on UDISE+ 2025–26 data, Odisha’s 840 PM SHRI schools have 738 Sanskrit teachers, 35 Urdu teachers and 648 regional language teachers. Across India, PM SHRI schools collectively have 6,102 Sanskrit teachers, 1,994 Urdu teachers and 9,152 regional language teachers.

The PM SHRI scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative launched to create exemplar government schools, focuses on improving infrastructure, integrating technology, promoting innovative teaching practices and developing inclusive learning environments that reflect the vision of the National Education Policy 2020. These schools are expected to serve as mentors for neighbouring institutions while offering students modern, equitable and high-quality education.