Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is India’s largest integrated scheme for school education — covering everything from pre-school to Class 12 under a single umbrella. Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Education, it merged three separate schemes that were earlier running independently: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for primary education, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for secondary education, and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Teacher Education (CSSTE).
The word “Samagra” means “complete” or “holistic” — and that is exactly the idea. Before 2018, primary schools had one set of rules, secondary schools had another, and teacher training ran separately. This created gaps, duplication of efforts, and inconsistent quality. Samagra Shiksha fixed this by treating the entire school journey — from age 3 to age 18 — as one continuous process under a single administrative and financial framework.
The scheme has been approved for continuation from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 with an estimated outlay of ₹2,94,283 crore. In the Union Budget 2026-27, Samagra Shiksha received an allocation of ₹42,100 crore — up from ₹41,250 crore in 2025-26. It is the single largest expenditure item under the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Why Was Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Needed?
Before 2018, India’s school education was managed through separate schemes that often worked in silos. SSA handled Classes 1-8, RMSA handled Classes 9-12, and Teacher Education ran independently. Each had its own funding, its own state-level implementation agency, and its own monitoring system. This led to several problems:
A child transitioning from Class 8 to Class 9 would move from one scheme (SSA) to another (RMSA) — with completely different infrastructure standards, teacher support, and quality benchmarks. There was no continuity. Schools that received SSA funds for primary classrooms could not use those funds for secondary classrooms in the same building.
Each scheme had its own State Implementation Society (SIS), its own bank accounts, its own auditing, and its own reporting formats. States were managing three separate bureaucracies for what should have been one unified education system.
Samagra Shiksha fixed this by creating one scheme, one SIS per state, one set of norms, and one comprehensive plan — covering pre-school through Class 12. This reduced administrative costs, eliminated duplication, and allowed states to plan holistically for a child’s entire school journey.
Objectives of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
The scheme has been aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4) — which aims for “inclusive and equitable quality education” for all by 2030. The core objectives are:
Ensure every child aged 3-18 has access to a school within their neighbourhood. Reduce dropout rates, especially at the transition points (Class 5→6, Class 8→9, and Class 10→11). Bridge gender, social, and geographical gaps in enrollment and retention.
Shift focus from enrollment to learning outcomes. Implement competency-based assessments, strengthen teacher training, and upgrade school infrastructure. Ensure every school meets the norms prescribed under the RTE Act 2009.
Special focus on SC, ST, minority, girl, and disabled children. Strengthen Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) for girls’ residential education up to Class 12. Provide assistive devices and inclusive infrastructure for Children with Special Needs (CWSN).
Implement the 5+3+3+4 structure, foundational literacy through NIPUN Bharat, play-based learning at the foundational stage, vocational education from Class 6, and the new National Curriculum Framework.
Major Components of Samagra Shiksha
The scheme covers a wide range of interventions. Here are the key components that directly impact students, teachers, and schools:
Launched in 2021 under Samagra Shiksha, the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) aims to ensure every child achieves foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3 — by 2026-27. It uses activity-based, play-based learning methods through initiatives like Jaadui Pitara (Magic Suitcase) learning kits.
Support for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in government schools — up to 2 years of pre-school education before Class 1. This is aligned with NEP 2020’s foundational stage (ages 3-8). Anganwadis co-located with primary schools are being integrated to ensure smooth transition from pre-school to formal schooling.
KGBVs are residential schools for girls from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and BPL families in educationally backward areas. Under Samagra Shiksha, KGBVs have been upgraded from Class 6-8 to Class 6-12, allowing girls to complete their entire secondary education in a safe residential environment. The scheme also provides Rani Laxmibai Atma Raksha Prashikshan (self-defence training) for girls and stipends for girls with special needs.
Skill-based education integrated into mainstream schools from Class 6. The Hub and Spoke model allows “hub schools” with vocational training facilities to serve nearby “spoke schools” — making practical training accessible even in rural areas without heavy infrastructure investment. Students participate in 10-day “bagless” periods engaging with local trades.
Support for digital classrooms, smart boards, and computer labs under the ICT component. Integration with DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) platform for e-content, and PM e-Vidya for multi-mode access to education through TV, radio, and internet. The Budget 2026-27 further supports AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools.
Regular in-service teacher training through DIETs (District Institutes of Education and Training), BRCs (Block Resource Centres), and CRCs (Cluster Resource Centres). The scheme funds salaries of teachers in government schools, ensures Pupil-Teacher Ratio compliance, and supports the training of untrained teachers to meet RTE norms.
Samagra Shiksha — Budget Allocation (2021-2027)
| Year | Budget Allocation |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 to 2025-26 (Total Outlay) | ₹2,94,283 crore (approved by CCEA) |
| 2023-24 | ₹37,453 crore |
| 2025-26 | ₹41,250 crore |
| 2026-27 | ₹42,100 crore (highest ever) |
The scheme is funded jointly by the Central and State governments in a 60:40 ratio for general states and 90:10 ratio for North-Eastern states and special category states. The total allocation for the Ministry of Education in Budget 2026-27 is ₹1,39,286 crore — of which the Department of School Education and Literacy received ₹83,562 crore. Samagra Shiksha alone accounts for over 50% of the school education budget.
How Samagra Shiksha Connects to RTE & NEP 2020
Samagra Shiksha is the primary implementation vehicle for both the RTE Act 2009 and the NEP 2020. Here is how they connect:
The RTE Act mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14. Samagra Shiksha provides the funding and infrastructure to make this happen — from building classrooms to hiring teachers to reimbursing private schools for the 25% RTE quota. In Gujarat alone, the government disbursed ₹3,723 crore in 2023-24 for RTE implementation — including ₹2,665 crore as fee reimbursement to private schools and ₹1,057 crore as direct assistance to over 6 lakh students.
The NEP 2020 introduced the 5+3+3+4 structure, foundational literacy goals, vocational integration, and multidisciplinary learning. Samagra Shiksha has been revamped to fund all these NEP reforms — from NIPUN Bharat (foundational literacy) to vocational education (Hub & Spoke model) to higher secondary education upgrades. Without Samagra Shiksha’s financial backbone, NEP 2020 would remain a policy document without implementation.