Overview

• Union Cabinet approved the five-year MERITE Scheme with a Rs 4,200 crore budget split equally between a World Bank loan and central government funds.
• The programme targets 275 government and aided technical institutions, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics, benefiting about 7.5 lakh students.
• Aligned with the National Education Policy-2020, MERITE aims to enhance quality, equity and governance in technical education across states and union territories.
• Key interventions will include updated curricula, digitalisation strategies, strengthened research hubs and expanded faculty development initiatives.
• Implementation will involve a central nodal agency working alongside IITs, IIMs and state and UT technical departments from 2025-26 through 2029-30.