Education Schemes in India, School & Higher Education Scheme List

India’s education system is transitioning towards a holistic, inclusive and outcome-oriented framework guided by the National Education Policy 2020 and SDG 4. Education Schemes in India address the entire education lifecycle, from foundational learning and school infrastructure to higher education, research and employability. PM SHRI, NIPUN Bharat and PM POSHAN aim to improve school quality, foundational competencies and child nutrition, while PM-Vidyalaxmi promotes equitable access to higher education through financial support.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation and PM Research Chair strengthen innovation, whereas the New India Literacy Programme and NATS promote adult literacy and industry-linked skills. Collectively, Education Schemes in India seek to build human capital and align education with India’s knowledge economy. Effective implementation of Education Schemes in India is vital to harnessing India’s demographic potential.

Education Schemes in India for School Education

India’s school-education policy has evolved from expanding access and enrolment towards improving learning outcomes, foundational learning, equity, nutrition, digital inclusion, skills and holistic development. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides the overarching framework, while Education Schemes in India address specific gaps across the school-education continuum through targeted interventions to improve educational quality, inclusivity and accessibility.

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

• Nature: It is the umbrella Centrally Sponsored Scheme covering school education from pre-school to Class XII, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
• Key Focus: It supports Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), teacher education, inclusive education, digital initiatives, infrastructure, vocational education, sports and gender equity.
• Impact: From 2018–19 to 2024–25, 80,105 schools were strengthened, 1,38,802 schools received ICT/digital interventions and 9,477 schools were covered under vocational education.

NIPUN Bharat

• Objective: Launched on 5 July 2021, NIPUN Bharat focuses on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under Samagra Shiksha.
• Target: It aims to ensure that every child achieves foundational learning by the end of Grade 3, consistent with the foundational stage under NEP 2020. 
• Implementation: All States/UTs are implementing the mission, with financial support provided through Samagra Shiksha and learning resources delivered through platforms such as DIKSHA.

PM SHRI

• Nature: Launched on 7 September 2022, PM SHRI is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for transforming existing government schools into NEP-aligned exemplar schools.
• Target: The scheme aims to strengthen more than 14,500 schools during 2022–23 to 2026–27, with a total project cost of ₹27,360 crore.
• Impact: As of July 2026, 13,092 schools had been selected, representing about 90% of the target, with more than 20 lakh students expected to benefit directly.

PM POSHAN

• Nature: PM POSHAN is a Centrally Sponsored nutritional-support scheme providing hot cooked meals to improve children’s nutrition, attendance and concentration.
• Coverage: It covers children in Bal Vatika and Classes I–VIII in eligible government and government-aided schools.
• Impact: Around 11.80 crore students in approximately 11.20 lakh schools are being served nutritious hot-cooked meals on school days.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)

• Objective: KGBV provides residential schooling to girls from disadvantaged communities to improve access and reduce dropout.
• Coverage: The scheme has been expanded up to Class XII, with priority to girls from disadvantaged social and economic groups. It is currently implemented under the Samagra Shiksha framework.
• Impact: By 2024–25, 5,133 KGBVs were operational, with enrolment increasing from 3.52 lakh in 2014–15 to 7.11 lakh in 2024.

STARS

• Nature: STARS means Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States and is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme supported by the World Bank.
• States: It covers Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan.
• Focus: It strengthens learning outcomes, assessment, teacher development, early childhood education and school governance; it also supports school infrastructure along with Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI. 
• The Union Ministry of Education extended the STARS programme further by two years (till 31st March 2027).

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

• Objective: NMMSS provides financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to reduce dropout after Class VIII.
• Benefit: It provides ₹12,000 per annum to selected students from Class IX, with renewal up to Class XII subject to conditions; 1 lakh fresh scholarships are offered annually. 
• Impact: For 2026–27, applications opened on the National Scholarship Portal, with the application deadline extended to 30 September 2026; as of 31 August 2026, 79,398 fresh and 1,87,208 renewal applications were submitted.

PM e-VIDYA / DIKSHA

• Objective: PM e-VIDYA integrates online, digital, television, radio and other modes to expand access to education and bridge the digital divide.
• DIKSHA: Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) is the major national digital platform providing learning resources, QR-linked textbooks and teacher-support material.
• Impact: As of 12 August 2026, DIKSHA had 2.35 crore registered users, while SWAYAM had crossed 6.5 crore enrolments.

Vidyanjali 2.0

• Objective: Vidyanjali connects government/government-aided schools with volunteers, alumni, professionals, NGOs and CSR organisations.
• Areas of Support: Contributions include teaching, mentoring, career guidance, remedial learning, sports, arts, vocational skills and school infrastructure.
• Impact: In the preceding year, 1,27,884 schools, 32,581 volunteers and 1,126 CSR organisations/NGOs/institutions were newly registered on the Vidyanjali Portal.

PARAKH

• Establishment: PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development and was established as the National Assessment Centre under NCERT on 8 February 2023.
• Objective: It seeks to shift school assessment from rote and summative examinations towards regular, formative and competency-based assessment.
• Role: It develops norms, standards and guidelines for assessment and promotes comparability and competency-based evaluation across school boards.
• PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report cards at the national, state and district levels are available, providing evidence on learning outcomes. 

NISHTHA

• Objective: NISHTHA means National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement and focuses on strengthening teacher and school-head capacity.
• Focus: It covers pedagogy, FLN, assessment, competency-based learning and holistic education through professional development.
  • The government has implemented NISHTHA 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 as part of NEP 2020 implementation, covering different stages and aspects of school education.

Vocational Education under Samagra Shiksha

• Objective: Vocational education integrates skills, experiential learning and exposure to the world of work into mainstream school education in line with NEP 2020.
• Coverage: For Classes VI–VIII, it includes pre-vocational exposure such as 10 bagless days; for Classes IX–XII, it offers NSQF-aligned skill courses.
• Impact: As of December 2025, 138 job roles were approved, and skilling initiatives were implemented in 25,140 schools, covering over 35.5 lakh students.

Education Schemes in India for Higher Education, Research and Literacy

India’s higher-education policy increasingly focuses on access, affordability, research, innovation, employability and lifelong learning, in line with NEP 2020. Education Schemes in India combine financial assistance for students with stronger research ecosystems, adult literacy, industry-linked training and the promotion of Indian languages to foster inclusive, accessible and outcome-oriented higher education.

PM-Vidyalaxmi

• Launch: Approved on 6 November 2024, PM-Vidyalaxmi provides collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans to meritorious students admitted on merit to designated Quality Higher Educational Institutions (QHEIs).
• Key Features: The government provides a 75% credit guarantee on loans up to ₹7.5 lakh and 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakh for students from families with annual income up to ₹8 lakh; students can avail loans without an upper loan ceiling.
• Impact: The scheme currently covers around 1,425 QHEIs, with institutions selected primarily using NIRF-based criteria; admissions through management and NRI quotas are excluded.

Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme

• Objective: PMRC aims to attract accomplished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, technologists and professionals from globally reputed institutions to premier Indian government HEIs, laboratories and research centres.
• Structure: It follows a three-pillar model comprising Lead Institutions, Host Institutions and PMRC Fellows, focusing on nationally relevant research.
• Impact: Applications for the scheme closed on August 15, 2026, which covered 13 thematic areas of national priority, including AI, quantum technology and advanced computing; outcome data are not yet available.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

• Objective: Created under the ANRF Act, 2023, with provisions coming into force in February 2024, ANRF serves as an apex institution for strengthening and strategically directing research across sciences, engineering, health, agriculture and interdisciplinary areas.
• Funding: It envisages mobilising ₹50,000 crore during 2023–28, including ₹14,000 crore in central budgetary support and the remainder from non-government sources.
• Impact: The FY 2024–25 revised allocation was ₹966 crore, while programmes such as PM Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and Mission for Advancement in High Impact Areas (MAHA) have been operationalised; the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund is separate from ANRF.

New India Literacy Programme (NILP)

• Objective: NILP is a centrally sponsored initiative for 2022–23 to 2026–27, aligned with NEP 2020 and SDG 4.6, aimed at improving literacy among non-literate adults.
• Components: It covers Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Vocational Skills Development, Basic Education and Continuing Education.
• Outlay: The programme has an approved outlay of approximately ₹1,037.90 crore, comprising ₹700 crore central and ₹337.90 crore state share.

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)

• Objective: NATS provides structured on-the-job training to graduates and diploma holders to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements.
• Implementation: The scheme facilitates apprenticeships through employers and establishments, enabling trainees to gain practical workplace experience.
• Significance: It improves industry–academia linkage, employability and work readiness by combining classroom knowledge with practical training.

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme (BBPS)

• Objective: Announced in Union Budget 2025–26, the scheme seeks to provide digital Indian-language textbooks for school and higher education.
• Coverage: It aims to make educational content available digitally in all 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule.
• Significance: It promotes multilingual education, accessibility and preservation of Indian languages while expanding digital learning resources.

Girls’ Hostels in STEM

• Objective: Union Budget 2026–27 proposed support for establishing one girls’ hostel in every district through viability-gap/capital support mechanisms.
• Focus: The initiative seeks to address residential and accessibility barriers faced by girls pursuing STEM education.
• Significance: Better residential infrastructure can support female participation and retention in STEM institutions and courses, particularly where distance is a barrier.

PM-YUVA 3.0

• Objective: The third edition of PM-YUVA, launched in 2025, mentors young authors below 30 years of age through an all-India selection process.
• Support: Selected authors receive ₹50,000 per month for six months, along with mentorship from established writers.
• Focus: It promotes reading, writing, creative expression and Indian literary traditions among young people.

Baalpan Ki Kavita

• Objective: The initiative seeks to compile and promote traditional and contemporary children’s rhymes and poems in Indian languages.
• Target: The content is intended for children from pre-primary to Grade 2, supporting age-appropriate early learning.
• Significance: It uses local languages, culture and literature to make foundational learning more engaging and culturally rooted.

Education Schemes in India Challenges

Despite the wider coverage of Education Schemes in India under NEP 2020, their effectiveness remains constrained by gaps in human resources, learning outcomes, financing, equity and implementation capacity.

• Teacher & faculty shortages: Around 10 lakh school-teacher posts were vacant in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan-funded schools, while 28.56% of sanctioned teaching posts across IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISERs and central universities were vacant, including 56.18% at the professor level, affecting teaching and research quality.
• Weak regulatory capacity: Significant vacancies in NCTE, UGC and AICTE weaken their ability to effectively regulate institutions, ensure quality, monitor standards and implement reforms.
• Poor fund utilisation & financing gap: CAG audits have highlighted under-utilisation, surrender and delayed expenditure under education schemes, while the gap between the NEP aspiration of 6% of GDP expenditure and actual spending constrains infrastructure, human resources and research investment.
• Learning-outcome deficit: ASER 2024 found that only 23.4% of Grade 3 government-school children could read a Grade 2-level text, indicating that expansion of enrolment has not automatically translated into foundational learning.
• Socio-economic & regional disparities: Financial hardship remains a major dropout driver, while significant inter-state, rural–urban and socio-economic disparities persist in learning outcomes, infrastructure and access to higher education.
• Multigrade & inadequate learning environments: Around two-thirds of Grade 1 and Grade 2 government-school classrooms are multigrade, making differentiated foundational learning difficult; infrastructure and digital-access gaps further affect educational quality.
• GER & access challenge: Although higher-education GER has improved, achieving the 50% GER target by 2035 requires greater participation among disadvantaged groups and expansion of quality institutions, particularly in underserved regions.
• Limited institutional autonomy & regulatory reform: Constraints on institutional autonomy and the non-operationalisation of the proposed HECI framework continue to complicate efforts towards flexible, accountable and innovation-oriented higher-education governance.
• Research funding & capacity gap: ANRF envisages mobilising ₹50,000 crore during 2023–28, whereas its FY 2024–25 revised allocation was ₹966 crore, highlighting the gap between research ambitions and available funding; uneven research infrastructure further limits outcomes.
• Weak industry–academia linkage & employability: Limited collaboration between educational institutions, research organisations and industry restricts the translation of education and research into skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and employment.

Education Schemes in India Way Forward 

The way forward for Education Schemes in India should focus on converting input-based programmes into outcome-oriented interventions, with emphasis on adequate human resources, efficient financing, inclusion, digital readiness and stronger accountability. 

• Time-bound teacher and faculty recruitment: Fill vacant teacher and faculty positions through permanent, transparent and time-bound recruitment, while ensuring compliance with reservation norms and reducing excessive dependence on contractual appointments.
• Strengthen regulatory capacity: Fill vacancies in NCTE, UGC and AICTE and strengthen their institutional capacity for effective regulation, quality assurance, monitoring and implementation of NEP 2020 reforms.
• Improve financing and fund utilisation: Ensure timely release and effective utilisation of education funds, strengthen State-level financial monitoring and diversify higher-education financing through mechanisms such as HEFA and private/philanthropic participation.
• Prioritise learning outcomes: Shift policy incentives from enrolment alone towards learning, completion and graduation outcomes, with regular assessment and targeted interventions for foundational learning under NIPUN Bharat.
• Focus on disadvantaged groups: Provide dedicated financial and infrastructural support for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), girls and students with disabilities, with measurable targets for participation and completion.
• Strengthen school infrastructure: Ensure adequate classrooms, laboratories, libraries, functional vocational labs, accessible infrastructure and learning materials, with clear timelines and accountability for delivery.
• Bridge the digital divide: Strengthen digital infrastructure, device access, connectivity and technological readiness to support digital learning, credit transfer, multidisciplinary education and inclusive learning for CWSN.
• Strengthen decentralised monitoring: Improve school inspections, State and district-level planning and Samagra Shiksha monitoring, while ensuring that implementation gaps are identified and corrected promptly.
• Align curriculum with skills and industry: Introduce regular curriculum review cycles, expand vocational education, ensure adequate instructors and functional laboratories, and strengthen linkages between education, emerging technologies and labour-market requirements.
• Accelerate research financing: Mobilise resources for ANRF towards its ₹50,000-crore 2023–28 ambition, while ensuring greater participation from private industry, philanthropy and other non-government sources to strengthen India’s research and innovation ecosystem.