India Government Approves Rs 3,284 Crore for Assam Education Project Samagra Shiksha in 2026-27

The Project Approval Board (PAB) under the Ministry of Education, India, has approved a budget of Rs 3,284.74 crore (approximately Rs 32 billion) for the Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA) program for the financial year 2026-27. This decision was taken in a meeting held on June 3, 2026, and includes a comprehensive work plan and budget for the region's education. This approved amount represents a significant investment by the Indian government in the education system from pre-primary to class 12 in Assam. A major portion of the total amount, Rs 2,318.67 crore, will be borne by the central government, while the state government will provide a matching contribution of Rs 257.63 crore. Additionally, there is a carry-over balance of Rs 708.43 crore available for the execution of programs.

The Samagra Shiksha Assam program stands out as an integrated initiative aiming to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality education to all students from pre-school to class 12. Key objectives of the program include addressing social and gender inequalities, increasing teacher capacity, and strengthening modern basic education skills. Supporting the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act is also a significant part of the program. With this approved budget, concrete steps are planned to strengthen the educational infrastructure in the state and improve the quality of education. The project specifically aims to expand educational opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Upon examining the budget distribution, it is evident that the largest share is allocated to elementary education; Rs 1,821.47 crore has been earmarked for this head. Secondary education receives the second largest share with Rs 1,124.73 crore. Rs 173.43 crore has been allocated for teacher training, while Rs 165.11 crore has been designated for the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy program. Out of the total approved allocation, Rs 2,149.99 crore is set aside for new and recurring interventions to be undertaken during the financial year. Additionally, an extra Rs 1,134.75 crore has been allocated to meet commitments carried over from previous years.

The Board also conditionally approved recurring grants for 86 hostels under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJUGUA) program. These hostels are planned to serve 33 primary and 53 secondary level students. The release of these funds is subject to the submission of completion certificates and geo-tagged photographs to the authorities. If the state fails to submit these documents on time, the flow of funds may be halted or suspended. This measure is intended to ensure expenditures occur transparently and based on evidence.

In the assessment by the central ministry, it was stated that Assam state currently has an unapproved recurring balance of Rs 467.41 crore. It was noted that this amount could be resubmitted for approval at a later stage if needed. The Board instructed the state government to review all construction projects approved between 2018-19 and 2020-21 but not yet started or completed by integrating with other schemes. Incomplete or obsolete projects will be cancelled. Furthermore, warnings were issued to ensure no duplication in the inter-district distribution of the approved budget and no overlap of beneficiaries with other state programs.