CM Himanta flags Tezpur school's PM SHRI upgrade
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Tezpur Collegiate High School has been selected under the PM SHRI scheme, the Centre's flagship initiative to upgrade 14,500 schools as NEP 2020-aligned model institutions across India.
Key Takeaways
Tezpur Collegiate High School in Tezpur, Assam has been selected for upgradation under the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme.
The PM SHRI scheme was launched in September 2022 to develop 14,500 model schools aligned with NEP 2020 through a challenge-mode selection process.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the school's selection and upgrade.
PM SHRI targets both infrastructure improvement and pedagogical transformation — including inquiry-based and experiential learning.
The move continues Assam's pattern of actively adopting central education reform programmes under BJP governance.
A school with more than a century of history in Tezpur, Assam, is stepping into a new chapter. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, highlighted the selection of Tezpur Collegiate High School under the PM SHRI scheme, calling the upgrade a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to build schools that prepare students for the future.
Tezpur Collegiate's long road to a central spotlight
Tezpur Collegiate High School is one of Assam's legacy institutions, carrying decades of academic tradition in the town of Tezpur on the banks of the Brahmaputra. Its selection under PM SHRI signals that older, established schools — not just newly built ones — are being brought into India's modern education reform framework.
CM Sarma wrote that the school 'has a legacy to be proud of' and is now 'getting new opportunities to shape the future,' crediting Prime Minister Modi's vision for the transformation.
What PM SHRI means for a school like this
The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme was launched in September 2022 by the Union Ministry of Education. Its goal: select 14,500 schools across India through a competitive 'challenge mode' process and upgrade them as model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
PM SHRI schools are designed not just for infrastructure improvement but for a pedagogical shift — inquiry-based learning, experiential education, and stronger student outcomes. For a school like Tezpur Collegiate, the scheme represents both a physical upgrade and a curriculum reorientation.
Assam's steady embrace of NEP-aligned reform
The announcement fits a consistent pattern in BJP-governed Assam, where the state government has actively promoted central education schemes as part of its alignment with national policy priorities. CM Sarma has regularly used public platforms to amplify the reach of programmes like PM SHRI, positioning Assam as an active partner in India's education transformation rather than a passive recipient of central funds.
For Assam's students and the state education department, the immediate question is how quickly infrastructure works and pedagogical support materialise on the ground — and which other legacy schools in the state may follow Tezpur Collegiate into the PM SHRI fold.
A school that shaped generations of students in Tezpur is now being asked to shape what comes next — and the real test is how swiftly that promise translates into classrooms.
Point of View
It also serves a dual purpose: it demonstrates federal cooperation and keeps education reform in the political conversation ahead of any future state cycles. The broader pattern across NEDA states suggests a coordinated communications strategy around PM SHRI, using legacy institutions to make the reform feel rooted rather than imposed. The real policy test, however, remains whether the on-ground execution — funding flow, teacher training, infrastructure completion — matches the political messaging.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM SHRI scheme?
PM SHRI, or Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India, is a central government scheme launched in September 2022 to upgrade 14,500 schools across India as model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Which school in Tezpur has been selected under PM SHRI?
Tezpur Collegiate High School in Tezpur, Assam, has been selected for upgradation under the PM SHRI scheme, as highlighted by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
How are schools selected under the PM SHRI scheme?
Schools are selected through a competitive 'challenge mode' process administered by the Union Ministry of Education, based on their readiness to implement NEP 2020-aligned education practices.
What changes will PM SHRI bring to Tezpur Collegiate High School?
While exact details for this specific school are yet to be officially announced, PM SHRI upgrades typically include infrastructure improvements and a shift to inquiry-based and experiential learning as prescribed under NEP 2020.
How many schools are being upgraded under PM SHRI across India?
The PM SHRI scheme targets the upgrade of 14,500 schools across India to serve as exemplars of NEP 2020-aligned education.
