Opposition Parties in Kerala Accuse UDF Government of Misleading Public on PM-SHRI Scheme

In Kerala, the CPI(M) and CPI have raised serious allegations against the UDF government, claiming it has misled the public about the PM-SHRI scheme's implementation in government schools. They argue that recent parliamentary documents contradict the government's assertions, revealing that no schools in Kerala have been selected for the scheme. The opposition contends that the funds allocated to the state are misrepresented as part of the PM-SHRI initiative, potentially undermining the public education system. This controversy echoes past disputes during the previous LDF government's tenure, highlighting ongoing tensions over educational policies in the state.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 07:58 IST

Allegations Against UDF Government

In Kerala, the opposition parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, have accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of misleading the public regarding the implementation of the Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme. They referenced a recent response from the central government in the Rajya Sabha to support their claims.

Senior leader of the CPI(M) and former state education minister, V. Shivan Kutty, asserted that documents presented by the central government in Parliament contradict the claims made by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and General Education Minister N. Samsuddin, indicating that the PM-SHRI scheme has not yet been implemented in Kerala's government schools.

Shivan Kutty cited a response from the Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, to Congress MP J.B. Methar, stating that no government school in Kerala has been selected under the PM-SHRI scheme to date. He alleged that the state government did not participate in the selection process for schools under this scheme. Only 47 central schools, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and institutions affiliated with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are included in this list.

He further claimed that the ₹99.27 crore allocated to Kerala for the year 2025-26 is not part of the PM-SHRI scheme but is instead the state's legal share under the overall education program's Right to Education (RTE) component. He noted that Tamil Nadu also has not signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM-SHRI scheme but has received funds related to RTE.

Shivan Kutty accused the government of misleading the public by presenting funds received under the legal education head as support for the PM-SHRI scheme, thereby compromising the state's public education system.

Echoing similar criticisms, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam stated that the central government's response has exposed the state government's claim that funds were received after signing the PM-SHRI agreement. The PM-SHRI scheme had previously sparked controversy during the tenure of the last Left Democratic Front (LDF) government when Kerala signed an MoU with the center. However, the state government later suspended the implementation of the scheme following objections from its coalition partner, the CPI.

The CPI argued that this could pave the way for the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020.