Cooperative Federalism in Education: Union-State Dialogue on NEP 2020 and Centrally Sponsored Schemes

A major point of discussion was the allocation of funds for critical educational schemes. These include Samagra Shiksha (an overarching programme for school education), PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan for higher education), PM POSHAN (nutritional support in schools), and ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society, targeting adult literacy). The smooth flow of central funds is vital for upgrading state educational infrastructure, improving learning outcomes, and ensuring nutritional support. Additionally, integrating West Bengal schools into the PM SHRI scheme will help develop exemplar schools showcasing the implementation of NEP 2020. By bridging the policy gap between the Centre and the State, such dialogues ensure that educational reforms are inclusive and financially viable. For a diverse country like India, federal consensus is indispensable to achieving the sustainable development goal of quality education (SDG 4). UPSC Relevance: This development is highly relevant for GS Paper II, particularly under the topics of federal structure challenges and social sector initiatives in education. Candidates can use this as a contemporary example of cooperative federalism and consensus-building in concurrent subjects. It is also useful for answering questions on the implementation challenges of NEP 2020 and the financial dynamics of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.