SRINAGAR: The Centre has allocated Rs 633.53 crore for elementary education in Jammu and Kashmir under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for 2026-27, marking a decline of nearly 38 per cent from the Rs 1,017.75 crore allocated in 2025-26, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The allocation has also fallen from Rs 1,180.11 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 1,234.55 crore in 2023-24, indicating a sustained decline over the four-year period.
The figures were provided by Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi in response to a starred question on allocation and utilisation of funds for primary education.
For the current financial year, the JK allocation stands at Rs 633.53 crore, compared with Rs 1,744.65 crore for Maharashtra. Among the larger allocations, Uttar Pradesh received Rs 8,898.96 crore, Bihar Rs 5,970.76 crore and Rajasthan Rs 3,081.48 crore.
The Centre said funds under Samagra Shiksha are released to States and Union Territories based on approved annual plans, expenditure levels and fulfilment of prescribed financial conditions.
It said some States are unable to receive all instalments because of a slow pace of expenditure. The Government takes into account unspent balances from the previous year while releasing funds.
States are required to meet conditions including submission of audited accounts, utilisation certificates, updated expenditure statements and receipt of the corresponding State share before further instalments are released.
The Ministry said it has launched the PRABANDH system to monitor expenditure and implementation under Samagra Shiksha. A dashboard tracks monthly physical and financial progress under major interventions, while regular reviews and follow-ups are conducted with States and UTs.
At the national level, expenditure under Samagra Shiksha on infrastructure rose from Rs 1,962.77 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 2,871.95 crore in 2025-26. Spending on teacher salaries stood at Rs 17,234.40 crore and Rs 13,508.69 crore respectively during the two years.
Expenditure on free textbooks was Rs 2,551.33 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 2,353.23 crore in 2025-26, while spending on free uniforms increased marginally from Rs 3,845.93 crore to Rs 3,871.02 crore.
The Centre also informed the House that Education Cess collections increased from Rs 63,252.86 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 65,890.50 crore in 2025-26.
It said the cess does not form part of the divisible pool of taxes and is not distributed between the Centre and States under Article 270 of the Constitution. For education, its proceeds are utilised through the Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh and the Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh.
Utilisation from the Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh rose from Rs 40,900 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 48,049.09 crore in 2025-26, while utilisation from the Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh stood at Rs 11,162.60 crore and Rs 10,314.31 crore respectively.
