Kerala Joins PM SHRI Scheme Despite CPI's Opposition, Accepts Rs 1,500 Crore In Education Grants

The Kerala government has decided to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Centre’s PM SHRI education programme, securing Rs 1,500 crore in grants, despite months of resistance from within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and concerns over the National Education Policy (NEP), The Telegarm reported.

The move comes as the state faces severe financial strain and mounting pressure ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

The Communist Party of India (CPI), the LDF’s second-largest ally, and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) have strongly opposed participation in the scheme, warning it could “pave the way for NEP’s backdoor entry” into Kerala’s education system.

Earlier this year, the state government had announced it would not sign the MoU, citing that the PM SHRI scheme requires adopting certain NEP-aligned reforms. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had then declared that the NEP “poses a threat to the country,” and discussions on the issue were twice deferred in the state cabinet following CPI objections.

However, on Monday (20 October), General Education Minister V. Sivankutty defended the shift in position, saying, “Why should the education department not accept the Centre's funds when the health and agriculture departments had already claimed their assistance?”

Officials in the education department said that the financial crunch at the end of the government’s second term made it difficult to forgo such funding.

A senior source said that any amount received from central grants would be acceptable, adding that such funds would help the government undertake much-needed development activities in the school sector.

The PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme aims to develop 14,500 model schools nationwide. Kerala’s participation marks a significant policy reversal for the state, long seen as one of the strongest critics of the NEP.

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