SRINAGAR: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the implementation of the ‘Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education’ (MERITE) scheme, aimed at enhancing the quality, equity and governance of technical education institutions across India. The scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 4,200 crore, will be implemented from 2025-26 to 2029-30.
Of the total budget, Rs 2,100 crore will come as external assistance from the World Bank in the form of a loan. The scheme will cover 275 government and government-aided technical institutions, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics. Select National Institutes of Technology (NITs), State Engineering Institutions, Polytechnics, and Affiliating Technical Universities (ATUs) will be supported under this initiative. It is expected to benefit approximately 7.5 lakh students across all States and Union Territories.
MERITE aligns with the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) and seeks to drive comprehensive reforms across the technical education landscape. The scheme’s primary objectives include developing guidelines for multidisciplinary programmes, increasing student employability and transition rates, strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, and improving quality assurance mechanisms at the institutional level.
The implementation strategy involves direct fund transfer from the Central Government to participating entities through a designated Central Nodal Agency. Premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and regulatory bodies like the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) will play pivotal roles in executing the scheme.
Among the anticipated outcomes are digitisation strategies for participating States and UTs, creation of labour market-aligned curricula, introduction of blended learning courses, and the development of future academic leaders, particularly women faculty. Efforts will also be made to strengthen faculty skills, address gender imbalances in technical education, and bridge the digital divide.
To support employment generation, the scheme will focus on internships, innovation centres, research hubs, faculty development, maker labs, and language workshops. These interventions are aimed at increasing placement rates and reducing unemployment among engineering graduates.
The scheme builds on the understanding that sustainable and inclusive national development is intrinsically linked to technological advancement. By fostering research, promoting innovation, and institutionalising NEP-2020 reforms, MERITE is expected to leave a long-lasting positive impact on India’s technical education landscape.
