Maharashtra gets ₹4,900 crore less than due in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Schemes
Why in news
Maharashtra's school education department has flagged a significant shortfall in central funding under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. The state receives only 3.06% of the scheme's budget despite having 8.61% of India's student population. The allocation gap of over ₹4,900 crore has prompted the state to demand a revision.
Background
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is a flagship centrally sponsored scheme for school education. Allocation to states is based on factors like student population and number of schools. Maharashtra has over 21 million students, 100,000 schools, and 75,000 teachers.
Key facts
Maharashtra accounts for 8.61% of India's total student population but gets only 3.06% of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan's budget.
The scheme's budget for 2025-26 is ₹87,367 crore; Maharashtra's allocation is only ₹2,673 crore.
If allocated proportionally, Maharashtra should receive about ₹7,522 crore, leading to a gap of over ₹4,900 crore.
Over 90% of Maharashtra's education budget is spent on salaries and pensions, leaving little for infrastructure.
Maharashtra has also demanded a higher central share in honorarium for cooks and helpers under PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (mid-day meal scheme).
Currently, the Centre contributes ₹600 out of ₹2,500 monthly honorarium per worker; state wants Centre to pay ₹2,000.
Prelims pointers
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
- Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (mid-day meal scheme)
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
- Maharashtra school education department
- Education minister Dada Bhuse
Mains angles
- Discuss the issues of fiscal federalism and equitable distribution of central funds in education schemes.
- Critically examine the adequacy of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in addressing state-specific educational needs.
- Analyze the impact of skewed central allocations on state education budgets and infrastructure development.