SRINAGAR: The School Education Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has rejected a media report claiming that the Ministry of Education released only 20 per cent of Samagra Shiksha funds to the Union Territory, terming it a “partial” presentation of the financial position under the centrally sponsored scheme.
In an official communique, the Department said the report published in Greater Kashmir on May 30, 2026, could create a misleading impression that educational activities in Jammu and Kashmir have been impacted due to insufficient fund releases. It clarified that the funding structure under Samagra Shiksha operates on a phased, norms-based system and must be assessed in its full administrative context.
The Department stated that the Project Approval Board (PAB) has approved an outlay of Rs 1,593.60 crore under the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP and B) for 2025–26. It emphasised that this approval represents a ceiling for planned expenditure and does not amount to immediate release of funds.
As per Government of India guidelines, funds under Samagra Shiksha are released in instalments by the Ministry of Education based on utilisation certificates, expenditure trends, available balances and compliance requirements. The Department said that during 2025–26, the Ministry released Rs 1,102 crore to Jammu and Kashmir under the scheme, which has been fully utilised with reported achievement of 100 per cent targets.
Rejecting comparisons between total approved outlay and a single tranche of release, the Department said such calculations do not reflect the complete financial architecture of the programme and may lead to incorrect conclusions about fund availability or utilisation.
The School Education Department highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir continues to implement major interventions under Samagra Shiksha, including PM SHRI Schools, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy initiatives, ICT-enabled and smart classrooms, inclusive education, girls’ education programmes, vocational education, and infrastructure development works.
It further stated that the Ministry of Education has acknowledged the Union Territory’s progress during recent review meetings as well as during the visit of the Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, to Jammu and Kashmir. The Project Approval Board has also appreciated improvements in academic indicators and implementation efficiency.
Citing performance data, the Department said Jammu and Kashmir has demonstrated strong utilisation capacity, including under PM SHRI Schools where approximately Rs 194.53 crore out of Rs 200.11 crore was utilised, reflecting efficient execution of approved interventions.
The Department maintained that the inference drawn in the report based on a percentage comparison between a single instalment and total PAB approval does not present a complete picture of fund flow and implementation. It added that educational activities across the Union Territory have continued without disruption.
Reiterating its position, the Department said all components under Samagra Shiksha are being implemented as per approved plans with financial prudence and efficiency, and that no adverse impact on education delivery has been observed due to fund flow arrangements.
