Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated a significant central share of Rs 641.60 crore under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), now extended as the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), out of a total approved amount of Rs 712.11 crore. This financial support underscores the region’s focus on advancing higher education infrastructure and quality.
Information was available with The Chenab Times from a Union Ministry of Education response submitted in the Lok Sabha. The figures were presented by the Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1281, raised by Ms S Jothimani, regarding fund allocations for major educational initiatives.
The approved central share for Jammu and Kashmir under RUSA/PM-USHA ranks among the higher allocations distributed to states and union territories across the country. This funding is designated for the development and enhancement of higher education institutions, including infrastructure upgrades, faculty development, and research initiatives.
Details provided in the parliamentary reply also highlighted substantial central allocations for Jammu and Kashmir under other key education schemes. For the Samagra Shiksha program, the central government allocated Rs 1,320.2174 crore in 2021-22, with Rs 873.9883 crore released. Subsequent allocations showed an increase, with Rs 1,650.5967 crore in 2022-23, Rs 1,736.4967 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 1,721.6013 crore in 2024-25, alongside phased releases of funds for each fiscal year. For the 2025-26 period, an allocation of Rs 1,435.9916 crore was made.
Under the ambitious PM SHRI scheme, which aims to transform select schools into exemplary institutions, Jammu and Kashmir was allocated a central share of Rs 104.796 crore for 2023-24, with Rs 52.39 crore released. This allocation saw a substantial rise in subsequent years, with Rs 252.68 crore allocated in 2024-25 and Rs 249.36 crore in 2025-26, accompanied by corresponding fund releases.
Further financial support was noted under the PM e-Vidya initiative. In 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir received an allocation of Rs 1.85 crore for the 200 DTH TV Channels component of the program. This initiative aims to leverage technology to expand access to educational content.
The PM POSHAN scheme, focused on improving nutritional standards in schools, also saw significant central funding for Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020-21, Rs 159.60 crore was released, with Rs 143.06 crore utilized. Subsequent years have shown varying amounts of releases and utilization, including Rs 122.21 crore released in 2021-22, Rs 86.84 crore in 2022-23, Rs 136.80 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 119.36 crore in 2024-25.
Nationally, the total approved expenditure under RUSA/PM-USHA across all states and union territories amounted to Rs 21,926 crore, with a central share of Rs 14,483.75 crore, excluding an additional 1 per cent Central MMER amount of Rs 80.30 crore. Jammu and Kashmir’s central share of Rs 641.60 crore represents a substantial portion of this overall central allocation, highlighting the union territory’s priority in the national educational development framework.
The Ministry of Education clarified that funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes are disbursed to states and union territories in strict adherence to established scheme guidelines and the prevailing instructions issued by the Ministry of Finance.
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