West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday, 18 May announced the launch of the Vivekananda Merit Scholarship for meritorious students, and declared that the state's education system would be restructured in line with the National Education Policy (NEP). The announcements were made at a felicitation ceremony for toppers of the secondary and higher secondary examinations held at Dhano Dhanya Auditorium in Kolkata.

Key Announcements

Adhikari said his newly formed government had already resolved, in a cabinet meeting, to implement the NEP across West Bengal. He stressed that financial constraints would not be permitted to obstruct access to higher education for deserving students. The Chief Minister also set a target of bringing at least one school in every block under the PM Shri project to modernise the state's education infrastructure.

Plans outlined include the development of smart schools, smart classrooms, modern laboratories, and upgraded libraries through a comprehensive overhaul of government educational institutions.

The Vivekananda Merit Scholarship

The scholarship, Adhikari said, is founded on the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and will be awarded purely on the basis of merit and financial need, with no distinction of caste or religion. Students seeking benefits under the scheme must apply directly through the Education Department. Notably, the cabinet has also decided to discontinue religious allowances, redirecting those resources toward merit-based scholarships accessible to students across all communities.

Government Schools vs Private Institutions

Adhikari acknowledged a stark gap between government and private schools, pointing out that while nearly 90 per cent of the state's population depends on government-run education, these institutions lag behind private ones in infrastructure and competitiveness. The government, he said, would place special emphasis on closing this divide.

He also directed private educational institutions to maintain transparency and accountability in their admission and fee collection processes. 'Do not create difficulties for ordinary families while collecting fees. Otherwise, the government will face embarrassment,' Adhikari said, urging private schools and colleges to exercise greater caution in student evaluation.

Depoliticisation and University Autonomy

Calling for a clean break from past practices, the Chief Minister said his administration would prioritise removing political influence from educational institutions and granting greater autonomy to universities. He assured that adequate teacher participation in schools and colleges would be ensured to create a proper academic environment.

What Comes Next

With NEP implementation committed at the cabinet level and the scholarship scheme already notified, the focus now shifts to execution — particularly the PM Shri school rollout across every block and the operationalisation of the merit-based scholarship application portal through the Education Department. Industry observers and educators will be watching whether the infrastructure push translates into measurable improvements in learning outcomes across the state's vast government school network.