In a significant move to ensure the quality and effectiveness of India’s latest educational infrastructure, the Ministry of Education has officially appointed 137 Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for the on-ground inspection of PM SHRI schools.
This decision follows the 50th PRAGATI meeting held on December 31, 2025, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the transformation of these schools into national benchmarks for the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Government of India has deployed a diverse group of Group-A officers, all of whom hold the rank of Joint Secretary or equivalent, to conduct field inspections.
Timeline: The inspections are scheduled to take place between February 16 and February 25, 2026.
Composition: * IAS Officers: 55 (Leading the deployment)
IRS Officers: 30
Other Services: Including IFS, IFoS, IDAS, IRTS, and ISS.
Objective: To review the implementation of the scheme at the grassroots level, specifically focusing on the 21 saturation points and providing direct guidance to school administrators.
The “21 Saturation Points” and 6 Pillars
The PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme is built on a “Saturation Model” to ensure every selected school provides a holistic, 21st-century learning environment. CNOs will assess progress across six key pillars:
Access and Infrastructure: Ensuring safety, aesthetics, and high-quality lab facilities (Smart Classrooms, ICT, and Atal Tinkering Labs).
Human Resources: Capacity building for teachers and leadership.
Curriculum and Pedagogy: Shift towards experiential, inquiry-driven, and play-based learning.
Inclusive Practices: Ensuring gender equity and accessibility for CWSN (Children with Special Needs).
Management and Governance: Tracking learning outcomes for every child in every grade.
Beneficiary Satisfaction: Feedback from students, parents, and the community.
Green School Initiatives
A unique aspect of these inspections is the assessment of “Green School” parameters. CNOs will verify if schools have successfully integrated:
Solar panels and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Nutrition gardens using natural farming.
Plastic-free campuses and functional rainwater harvesting.
Administrative Contacts
For procedural clarifications, Nodal Officers have been directed to contact the following key personnel at the Department of School Education & Literacy:
Dr. Preeti Meena (IAS): Director (PM-SHRI & NEP) – [email protected]
Shri Vipinder Chander Chamoli: Under Secretary – [email protected]
