Overview
- The Union Education Secretary sent a formal letter that Kerala received on Friday, asking the state to say promptly whether it will implement the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) programme.
- UDF ministers remain split and Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan has said the final call will follow consultations with party leaders and the four-member Cabinet subcommittee that has not yet filed its report.
- The state faces legal constraints because the previous LDF government signed an MoU with the Centre in 2025 that limits Kerala’s ability to withdraw unilaterally from the scheme.
- Kerala officials say roughly ₹1,400–2,000 crore in central education funds, including Samagra Shiksha releases, are at stake and have been cited as a key reason the government is weighing acceptance.
- The debate is sharply political: left and Muslim League partners worry PM SHRI could shift curriculum toward a majoritarian view while the BJP urges immediate uptake to unlock school upgrades for about 1.8 million students.