Karnataka trails national pace in PM Shri schools rollout

Karnataka has fallen short of the national average in implementing the Centre’s PM Shri schools scheme, highlighting uneven progress in a flagship programme aimed at upgrading school infrastructure in line with the National Education Policy.

Data reviewed by officials show the state has achieved about 84 per cent compliance against the national average of 92 per cent. The scheme seeks to transform selected government schools into model institutions equipped with smart classrooms, modern laboratories and environmentally sustainable facilities.

The shortfall points to gaps in execution at a time when the programme is expected to set benchmarks for quality in public education. Officials attribute the slower pace to administrative bottlenecks and delays in infrastructure upgrades across districts.

The PM Shri initiative is positioned as a key vehicle for demonstrating the principles of the National Education Policy in practice, including experiential learning and technology integration. Any lag in rollout risks widening disparities between states and limiting the scheme’s intended impact.

Educationists note that while infrastructure development is essential, outcomes will ultimately depend on teacher training, curriculum delivery and consistent monitoring. The Karnataka experience underscores the challenge of translating centrally designed schemes into uniform gains on the ground.

With timelines tightening, the focus is likely to shift to accelerating implementation and addressing structural constraints that have held back progress so far.