More than 13,000 schools across India are being upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme, with the government expecting the initiative to directly benefit over 20 lakh students through improved infrastructure, learning facilities, and modernised educational practices, according to an official government statement released on 15 September 2026.

Scale and Progress So Far

According to government data, 13,092 schools had been selected as PM SHRI Schools across states and Union Territories as of July 2026. This accounts for approximately 90 per cent of the total target envisaged under the scheme, which aims to develop more than 14,500 existing schools into exemplar institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The selected institutions include schools under the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), among others.

Financial Outlay and Rising Investment

The scheme carries a total project cost of ₹27,360 crore, spread over five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27. Of this, the Central government's share stands at ₹18,128 crore. Notably, the Central share of the approved Project Approval Board (PAB) outlay has risen sharply — from ₹2,520 crore in 2023-24 to ₹5,224 crore in 2026-27, a jump of around 107 per cent, reflecting the programme's accelerating pace of implementation.

What the Scheme Aims to Change

Launched on 7 September 2022, the PM SHRI Scheme focuses on strengthening school infrastructure, upgrading pedagogy, promoting inclusion and sustainability, and equipping students with skills suited to 21st-century demands. The scheme completed four years in 2026. PM SHRI schools are designed to serve as model institutions — demonstrating how NEP 2020's principles can be implemented effectively — and are intended to set a benchmark that other schools across the country can follow.

Officials noted that India's education system currently comprises 14.71 lakh schools serving more than 24.69 crore students. 'India is witnessing a significant transformation in its school education system, marked by a growing emphasis on quality, equity, inclusion, and future-ready learning,' officials said, adding that the focus is increasingly on enhancing learning outcomes and supporting holistic development.

What Students Can Expect

The selected PM SHRI schools are envisioned to provide students with safe, stimulating, and welcoming learning environments. The initiative also seeks to ensure access to quality infrastructure, appropriate learning resources, and diverse educational experiences that contribute to students' overall development — academic, physical, and creative.

What Comes Next

With the scheme running until 2026-27, the government is expected to bring the remaining 10 per cent of target schools into the fold in the current fiscal year. The rising PAB outlay signals that the final phase will see the highest single-year spending since the programme's launch, and implementation quality at the ground level will be the critical metric to watch.