Odisha Has 840 PM SHRI Schools, Centre Confirms in Lok Sabha

29 Jul 2026, 08:51 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Odisha has brought 840 government schools under the Centre’s PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) initiative, with these institutions being developed as model schools in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Union government has informed Parliament.

The information was shared by Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha while responding to a question on the implementation of the flagship school education programme across the country.

According to the minister, 13,092 schools have so far been selected under the PM SHRI scheme nationwide. Odisha accounts for 840 of these schools, which have been chosen through the programme’s prescribed selection process from eligible government and government-aided institutions.

Apart from expanding the network of PM SHRI schools, the Union government also outlined the availability of language teachers in Odisha. The state has 738 Sanskrit, 35 Urdu and 648 regional language teachers, reflecting efforts to support multilingual education as envisaged under the National Education Policy.

The PM SHRI scheme is designed to transform selected schools into centres of excellence that demonstrate the objectives of the NEP 2020. The initiative focuses on creating inclusive and equitable learning environments while strengthening classroom teaching through competency-based education, experiential learning and greater use of technology.

Schools selected under the programme are expected to provide modern infrastructure, promote environmental sustainability, improve foundational literacy and numeracy, integrate vocational education and digital learning, and encourage holistic development of students. These institutions are also intended to serve as demonstration schools, enabling neighbouring schools to adopt successful academic and administrative practices.

The minister informed the House that schools are selected through a transparent challenge-based process after meeting the eligibility parameters laid down by the Ministry of Education. Financial assistance is subsequently provided to support infrastructure upgrades and other quality improvement measures required under the scheme.

Launched by the Government of India to implement the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, the PM SHRI programme seeks to develop exemplar schools capable of showcasing innovative teaching methods, inclusive education, skill-based learning and improved governance.

The latest data placed before Parliament highlights Odisha’s significant participation in the initiative, with 840 PM SHRI schools now forming part of the national network of 13,092 selected institutions, alongside continued provision of Sanskrit, Urdu and regional language teachers in the state’s education system.