Overview
- Kerala’s General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen said the UDF government will decide on implementing the Centre’s PM‑SHRI school upgrade scheme only after a special three‑member Cabinet sub‑committee submits its report, a stance repeated in coverage published on Sunday.
- The previous LDF administration signed a memorandum with the Centre to join PM‑SHRI but put implementation on hold after internal opposition and public objections emerged.
- CPI leader K. Rajan warned that moving ahead with PM‑SHRI against public sentiment would trigger massive protests, while the BJP urged the state to sign the MoU quickly to secure funds for digital classrooms, sports and teacher training.
- Congress leaders have attacked CPI and the former LDF cabinet for agreeing to the scheme earlier in Delhi and accused them of hypocrisy for now opposing it.
- PM‑SHRI is a central scheme to upgrade school infrastructure and learning through smart classrooms, sports facilities and teacher training, and the dispute in Kerala reflects wider tensions over federal guarantees, cabinet process and fears of ideological influence on curricula.