State gets ₹4,900 crore less than its due in central education scheme

Maharashtra received ₹2,673 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for 2025-26, but based on its 8.61% share of India's student population, it should get around ₹7,522 crore.

The allocation gap is over ₹4,900 crore, according to the state's school education department.

Maharashtra has over 100,000 schools, more than 75,00,000 teachers, and over 21 million students.

Education minister Dada Bhuse urged the Centre to substantially increase the state's allocation, noting over 90% of the state education budget goes to salaries and pensions.

Maharashtra also demanded the Centre raise its contribution to the honorarium of cooks and helpers under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme from ₹600 to ₹2,000 per month.