Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is gearing up for legal action to recover ₹1,500 crore in funds allegedly withheld by the Centre under the PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) scheme. The escalating standoff revolves around Kerala’s refusal to sign a mandatory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that requires co-branding with the Centre.
Education Minister V. Sivankutty confirmed that Kerala would pursue legal remedies, possibly approaching the Supreme Court, arguing that the Centre’s conditions infringe on the state’s constitutional autonomy. “We welcome development, but not at the cost of our federal rights. Education is on the Concurrent List, and states cannot be forced to toe the Centre’s branding line,” he stated.
The withheld funds were intended for upgrading schools into model institutions under PM SHRI. The Centre, however, insists that only states agreeing to its terms — including co-branding and shared implementation control — will receive the funds.
Kerala’s planned legal action could have wider implications, potentially sparking similar challenges from other states opposing central overreach in implementing joint schemes.
The outcome may redefine Centre-state financial relations and set a precedent in cooperative federalism debates across India.
