SRINAGAR: The Union Government has released a combined Rs 2,205.84 crore in central funds to Jammu and Kashmir under the Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes over the three financial years from 2023-24 to 2025-26, according to data presented by the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha.
Of the total, Rs 2,205.84 crore was released and utilised under the two schemes, with Rs 2,205.84 crore comprising Rs 2,205.84 crore? Wait—under Samagra Shiksha, the central share released totalled Rs 2,205.84 crore, while the PM SHRI figures show Rs 276.80 crore released and utilised. The combined central share released and utilised under both schemes therefore amounted to Rs 2,482.64 crore.
Under Samagra Shiksha, the Centre released Rs 865.43 crore in 2023-24, Rs 823.49 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 516.92 crore in 2025-26, totalling Rs 2,205.84 crore. The funds available, including opening balances and the UT share, stood at Rs 1,289.50 crore, Rs 1,471.76 crore and Rs 1,102.65 crore respectively during the three years.
Expenditure under Samagra Shiksha, according to the PRABANDH portal, was Rs 1,103.22 crore in 2023-24, Rs 944.49 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 1,102.64 crore in 2025-26.
Under the PM SHRI scheme, the approved outlay for Jammu and Kashmir was Rs 116.43 crore in 2023-24, including an approved central share of Rs 104.79 crore, against which Rs 52.40 crore in central funds was released and utilised.
The approved PM SHRI outlay increased to Rs 280.76 crore in 2024-25, with a central share of Rs 252.68 crore, of which Rs 99.72 crore was released and utilised. In 2025-26, the approved outlay stood at Rs 277.07 crore, including a central share of Rs 249.36 crore, while Rs 124.68 crore was released and utilised.
The figures were provided by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1146 on school education infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry said the Centre provides financial and technical support to Jammu and Kashmir through schemes including Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI to strengthen school infrastructure, promote inclusive and equitable education, improve skilling and enhance learning outcomes.
Under these centrally sponsored schemes, support is provided for strengthening existing government schools and creating or augmenting facilities including additional classrooms, toilets for boys, girls and children with special needs, drinking water, electricity, boundary walls, libraries, ICT and digital classrooms, playgrounds, science and computer laboratories, vocational education facilities and teaching staff.
The Ministry said infrastructure requirements are assessed annually by the respective State or UT on the basis of needs and priorities and incorporated into the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B). These proposals are subsequently appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) in consultation with States and UTs, taking into account programme and financial norms, progress of previously sanctioned works and available budgetary resources.
The Union Government also said gaps in school infrastructure are determined using data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) and proposals submitted by the concerned State or UT.
It clarified that education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution and that the majority of schools are administered by State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The UT Administration, therefore, plays a key role in identifying infrastructure requirements and implementing education schemes at the grassroots level.
The Ministry’s response did not provide a separate, item-wise assessment of the current shortage of classrooms, playgrounds, laboratories, vocational facilities or teaching staff in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, it said infrastructure requirements are identified through the UDISE database and annual proposals submitted by the UT Administration.
The data shows that central releases under Samagra Shiksha in Jammu and Kashmir declined from Rs 865.43 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 516.92 crore in 2025-26, a reduction of nearly 40 per cent over the period. However, expenditure under the scheme in 2025-26 was almost the same as the total funds available, at Rs 1,102.64 crore against Rs 1,102.65 crore.
The Ministry did not provide a national average or State- and UT-wise comparative ranking in the Rajya Sabha reply, so the available data does not establish whether Jammu and Kashmir’s infrastructure funding or utilisation is above or below the national average.
