Miscellaneous Education Schemes & Initiatives
🧠 Understanding the Broader Picture
Education is not just about schools and universities. It’s also about research access, financial empowerment, digital education, skill development, and inclusive literacy. While major schemes like Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, and PM-USHA form the backbone, several parallel initiatives strengthen India’s educational ecosystem.
Let’s explore them, one by one.
🔷 One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Democratizing Research Access
| Feature | Details |
| Purpose | Provide free access to 13,000+ international scholarly journals |
| Launch | January 2025 |
| Type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Coverage | 6,300+ govt. HEIs + central R&D labs |
| Beneficiaries | ~1.8 crore students, researchers, faculty |
| Coordinator | INFLIBNET (UGC autonomous body) |
| Monitoring | By Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) |
📌 Why it matters: India has long suffered from a lack of access to quality academic content due to high journal subscription costs. ONOS solves this by pooling resources and negotiating national-level journal access—a huge step for research quality.
🔷 Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (PM–VidyalaXmi) Scheme
Ensuring Financial Access to Higher Education
| Feature | Description |
| Purpose | Provide loans for meritorious students who lack financial support |
| Type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Budget Context | Announced in Union Budget 2024–25 |
| Eligibility | Students in top 860 Quality Higher Educational Institutions (QHEIs) via merit/admission tests |
| Loan Details | Collateral-free, digital, no guarantor required |
| Annual Coverage | ~22 lakh students |
| Monitoring | Managed via PM Vidyalaxmi Portal (Canara Bank) |
Guarantee & Subsidy
🔹 75% credit guarantee up to ₹7.5 lakh
🔹 3% interest subvention for families < ₹8 lakh on loans upto 10 lakhs
🔹 Full subsidy for income < ₹4.5 lakh
📌 Why it matters: Education loans in India often require collateral or are difficult to obtain for poor families. PM-VidyalaXmi makes higher education more accessible, inclusive, and digital.
🔷 National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)
Bridging the Skill–Employment Gap
| Feature | Details |
| Purpose | Provide on-job training for 6–12 months |
| Beneficiaries | Graduates, Diploma holders, Vocational certificate holders |
| Legal Basis | Apprentices Act, 1961 (amended 1973) |
| Implementing Bodies | BOATs (Boards of Apprenticeship/Practical Training) |
| Coverage | Course fees + exam/study material expenses |
| Tenure | 2021–2026 |
📌 Why it matters: Helps fresh graduates gain practical industry exposure, making them job-ready. A key link between education and employment.
🔷 ULLAS – New India Literacy Programme (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram)
Mainstreaming Non-Literates
| Feature | Details |
| Purpose | Empower adults (15+ years) through literacy, life skills, and vocational training |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Tenure | 2022–2027 |
| Inspired by | NEP 2020’s vision of lifelong learning |
Components of ULLAS:
- Foundational Literacy & Numeracy – Basic reading/writing/arithmetic
- Basic Education – Equivalence to formal schooling
- Vocational Skills – Job-oriented training
- Critical Life Skills – Financial, digital, health literacy, childcare
- Continuing Education – Lifelong learning for all ages
📌 Why it matters: Over 25 crore Indian adults remain functionally non-literate. ULLAS helps integrate them into society by unlocking productivity and dignity.
🔷 PM eVIDYA
India’s Multi-Modal Digital Learning Umbrella
| Feature | Details |
| Objective | Consolidate all online/digital/on-air education efforts |
| Type | Integrated Digital Initiative |
| Launched Under | Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in 2020 |
| Global Recognition | Won UNESCO’s ICT in Education Prize (2021) |
📌 Key Components: DIKSHA, Swayam Prabha, Radio Schooling, e-Pathshala, etc.
📌 Why it matters: Especially vital during COVID-19, ensuring continuity of learning using technology across platforms.
🔷 Vidya Sameeksha Kendra (VSK)
Big Data for Real-Time Education Monitoring
| Feature | Description |
| Origin | Scaled from Gujarat’s VSK model: launched 2019-20, national level 2021-22 |
| Functions | Track daily attendance, learning outcomes, teacher performance |
| Framework | Part of NDEAR (National Digital Education Architecture) as a part of NEP 2020 digital initiative |
| Expansion | To be replicated nationwide under MoE’s direction |
📌 Why it matters: Brings data-driven governance to school education — a critical step for targeted interventions and policy feedback.
🔷 Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Initiative
Reviving India’s Indigenous Intellectual Heritage
| Feature | Details |
| Administered By | IKS Cell under AICTE |
| Launch Year | October 2020 |
| Purpose | Promote research and awareness in traditional knowledge systems across disciplines |
| Scope | Arts, Literature, Agriculture, Engineering, Basic Sciences, etc. |
| Special Highlight | Introduction of 75 indigenous games like gilli danda, posham pa, raja-mantri-chor-sipahi, etc. in schools |
📌 Why it matters: Aligns with NEP 2020’s goal of contextualised, rooted, and culturally aware education.
🔷 STARS Project (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States)
World Bank–Supported Reform-Driven Initiative
| Feature | Description |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Launched in | 2020 |
| Tenure | Till FY 2024–25 |
| Funding | $500 million from World Bank |
| States Covered | 6 States – HP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, MP, Kerala, Odisha |
| Base Scheme | Carved out of Samagra Shiksha |
National & State-Level Components:
- National Level: Establish PARAKH (National Assessment Centre), learning assessment system
- State Level: Focus on ECE, vocational education, teaching quality, and classroom instruction
Output-Linked Outcomes:
- Improved Grade 3 proficiency
- Higher secondary school completion rates
- Better governance index
- Stronger planning capacity at decentralized level
📌 Why it matters: Focuses on result-linked financing, ensuring accountability and performance-based reforms in school education.
🔷 Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF)
Attracting India’s Best Brains into Research
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2018 |
| Aim | Nurture top talent in Science/Engineering research |
| Institutions Covered | IITs, IISERs, IISc Bengaluru, top NITs, select central universities |
| Scholarship | Highly competitive & financially attractive |
| Mentoring Role | Fellows must teach in nearby ITI/Polytechnic/School once a week |
📌 Why it matters: Research in India often struggles to attract the best students due to better global opportunities. PMRF reverses this brain drain by offering world-class support within India.
🔷 Study in India Programme
Branding India as a Global Education Hub
| Feature | Description |
| Type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Launched in | 2018 |
| Purpose | Promote Indian HEIs among international students |
| Implementing Agency | EdCIL (India) Ltd, Mini Ratna PSU |
| Goal | Make India a preferred education destination |
📌 Why it matters: Like the U.S. or Australia, India aims to earn foreign exchange and soft power by becoming a destination for global learners.
🔷 Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA)
Fostering Scientific Temper in Children (6–18 years)
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2015 |
| Aim | Motivate students to engage in STEM learning through observation, experimentation, and inference |
| Integrated With | SSA + RMSA |
| Mentors | Institutions like IITs, IIMs, IISERs provide mentorship and innovation workshops |
📌 Why it matters: NEP 2020 envisions an experiential learning ecosystem. RAA plants this seed early in school-going children.
🔷 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA)
Rural Development through Higher Education Institutions
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2018(original UBA in 2014) |
| Type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Aim | Involve HEIs in solving rural problems using their knowledge base |
| Current Version | UBA 2.0 — expanded to more institutions |
🛠️ Technical Interventions in Rural Areas:
- Agriculture: Sustainable farming, bio-fertilizers, pest management
- Water: Micro-irrigation, recharge, watershed
- Livelihood: Skilling artisans, tech in crafts, value chains
- Infrastructure: Roads, sanitation, digital connectivity
- Energy: Renewable energy, biogas, solar off-grid
📌 Why it matters: This is academia meeting the grassroots, aligning education with nation-building.
🔷 KAPILA (Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness)
Fostering a Culture of Patents and Innovation
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2020 |
| Purpose | Promote IP awareness in HEIs |
| Launched by | MoE Innovation Cell |
| Support Provided | Financial assistance for patent filing and IP training |
📌 Why it matters: India ranks low in global IP filings. KAPILA bridges this gap by training students/faculty in IP processes and patent laws.
🔷 AICTE-SPICES Scheme
Student Clubs for Creativity and Ethics
| Feature | Description |
| Launched | 2018 |
| Full Form | Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity, and Ethics among Students |
| Eligibility | AICTE-approved institutes (min. 5 years old) |
| Support | ₹1 lakh (one-time grant) to set up a Model Student Club |
📌 Why it matters: Cultivates non-academic development—ethics, creativity, leadership, and teamwork.
🔷 Vittiya Saksharata Abhiyan (VISAKA)
Towards a Cashless Education Ecosystem
| Feature | Description |
| Launched As | Part of Digital India mission in 2016 |
| Volunteers | NSS/NCC students to promote digital payment awareness |
| Target Groups | Vendors, shopkeepers near campuses |
📌 Why it matters: This is not just about going cashless — it’s about empowering students to lead real-world behavioural change.
Current Status: Inactive as a scheme, but digital financial literacy initiatives continue under Digital India.
🔷 IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) 2.0
Translating Knowledge into Tech Solutions
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2018 (IMPRINT 1.0 in 2015) |
| Purpose | Solve India’s engineering and societal problems via research-to-product pipeline |
| Institutes Covered | MoE-funded HEIs + CFTIs + select private institutions |
| Merged Scheme | Subsumes Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana |
| Funding Partners | MoE + DST |
📌 Why it matters: IMPRINT ensures publicly funded research becomes publicly usable technology.
🔷 Institutes of Eminence (IoE)
Creating India’s Global-Standard Universities
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2017 |
| Aim | Enable 10 public + 10 private institutions to achieve world-class status |
| Funding | ₹1,000 crore for public IoEs; no funds for private ones |
| Autonomy Granted | Academic, financial, and administrative |
Special Privileges
🔹 Start campuses abroad.
🔹 Launch new centres (max 3 in 5 years)
🔹 Freedom in curriculum, admission, hiring
📌 Why it matters: India needs globally ranked universities. IoEs create academic freedom, innovation, and global visibility.
🔷 Vidwan Portal
India’s Knowledge Registry
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2016 |
| What is it? | National database of Indian faculty, researchers, and scientists |
| Purpose | Foster collaboration and visibility in academia |
| Maintained by | INFLIBNET (UGC Inter-University Centre) |
📌 Why it matters: Think of it as India’s LinkedIn for Academics, useful for policy-makers, recruiters, and researchers.
🔷 Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme – NILP)
A Nationwide Adult Literacy Drive
| Feature | Description |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Target Group | Non-literates aged 15+, especially women and educationally backward states |
| Tenure | 2022–2027 |
| Implementation | By volunteer teachers, students, HEIs, TEIs |
| Digital Support | Uses OTLAS (Online Teaching, Learning & Assessment System) via NIC, NCERT, NIOS |
| Annual Target | 1 crore learners/year = 5 crore by 2027 |
5 Components of NILP:
- Foundational Literacy & Numeracy
- Critical Life Skills
- Basic Education
- Vocational Skills
- Continuing Education
📌 Why it matters: This is India’s second major adult literacy movement after the National Literacy Mission. It uses modern digital tools to bridge generational education gaps.
🌐 SWAYAM
Full Form: Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds
Democratizing Access to Quality Education
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2017 |
| Aim | Make best teaching-learning resources accessible to all |
| Courses | 300+ free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) |
| Instructors | From premier Indian institutes (IITs, IIMs, etc.) |
| Support Features | Weekly assignments, proctored exams, credit transfers, active local chapters |
📌 Significance: SWAYAM addresses educational inequity by ensuring that even the most disadvantaged learners have access to top-tier education free of cost.
🌍 GIAN
Full Form: Global Initiative of Academic Networks
Tapping Global Talent for Indian Classrooms
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2015 |
| Aim | Invite world-class faculty to teach and collaborate with Indian institutions |
| Delivery | Short-term specialized courses, interactions |
| Integration | Courses available through SWAYAM and National Digital Library |
📌 Significance: GIAN enables knowledge transfer and global exposure for Indian students through foreign academic engagement.
📜 National Academic Depository (NAD)
A Secure Digital Vault for Academic Credentials
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2017 |
| Purpose | 24×7 digital storage of certificates, degrees, mark sheets |
| Who Uploads | Academic institutions, boards, assessment bodies |
| Utility | Ensures tamper-proof, verifiable academic records for employers and institutes |
📌 Significance: NAD promotes transparency, reduces forgery, and supports digital India in education.
🏫 NIRF – National Institutional Ranking Framework
Objective Ranking of Indian HEIs
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2015 |
| Purpose | Rank Indian institutions by quality and performance |
Parameters
- Teaching, Learning & Resources
- Research & Professional Practice
- Graduation Outcomes
- Outreach & Inclusivity
- Perception
📌 Significance: NIRF creates a competitive ecosystem for Indian institutions to improve standards and global positioning.
🧠 IMPRESS
Full Form: Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences
Policy-Linked Social Science Research
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2018 |
| Aim | Fund research that can influence public policy |
| Agency | Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) |
| Eligibility | Govt/Private institutions with UGC 12(b) status |
🔍 Key Research Domains:
- Urban Transformation
- Governance & Public Policy
- Rural Development
- Health & Environment
- Politics, Law, Economics
- Social Media & Society
📌 Significance: IMPRESS turns academic research into actionable insights for governance.
Current Status: Concluded in 2021; ICSSR handled projects but no new funding post-2021.
🤝 SPARC
Full Form: Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration
India’s Global Research Gateway
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2018 |
| Purpose | Joint research between Indian and foreign institutions |
| Coverage | Institutions ranked in top-100 of NIRF 2019 |
| Countries Involved | 28 nations (like USA, UK, Japan, etc.) |
📌 Significance: SPARC strengthens collaborative innovation in areas of national/global concern.
🧾 INSET
Full Form: Integrated National School Education Treasury
A One-Stop Data Ecosystem for School Education
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2021 under NDEAR framework |
| Aim | Unified platform for school-wise/block-wise/state-wise information |
| Goal | Build a multi-layered data ecosystem for education policy & planning |
📌 Significance: INSET enables evidence-based decision-making in education governance.
💰 Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh (MUSK)
Education-Focused Non-Lapsable Fund
| Feature | Description |
| Created In | 2017 to collect proceeds from Secondary & Higher Education Cess |
Utilization (2023-24)
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
- PM-USP Yojana
- KVS, NVS
- Merit Scholarships |
📌 Significance: A ring-fenced education fund ensures that money collected for education is used only for education.
💻 NEAT
Full Form: National Educational Alliance for Technology
Bringing the Best EdTech on One Platform
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2019 |
| Aim | Provide students with AI-powered EdTech tools |
| Model | Public–Private Partnership with EdTech firms |
| Platform | Govt invites companies to showcase tools; learners choose based on needs |
📌 Significance: NEAT integrates technology with pedagogy, ensuring that students get access to best learning tools affordably.
🖋️ PM-YUVA 2.0
Full Form: Prime Minister’s Scheme for Young, Upcoming, and Versatile Authors
Shaping India’s Literary Future
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2021 |
| Purpose | Mentor young authors (under 30 years) |
| Goal | Promote reading, writing, literary culture |
| Focus | Indian language writing + projecting India globally |
| Nature | Author Mentorship + Book Publication |
📌 Significance: PM-YUVA nurtures India’s next-gen authors, enhancing both creative expression and cultural diplomacy.
📖 Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
A Sub-Programme of SSA for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2014 |
| Aim | Improve early language skills and mathematical thinking in primary education |
Two Tracks
- Early Reading & Writing with Comprehension
- Early Mathematics |
| Library Grant | ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 per govt school |
| Outlay | ₹473.96 crore for over 7 lakh schools |
| Innovation | Creating Reading Corners to promote child-friendly literature |
📌 Significance: Lays the cognitive foundation critical for future learning, closely aligned with NEP and NIPUN Bharat.
Current Status: Merged into NIPUN Bharat (2021); foundational literacy focus continues.
🌠 Pradhan Mantri Innovation Learning Programme – DHRUV
Nurturing the Nation’s Gifted Minds
| Feature | Description |
| Aim | Identify and mentor exceptionally talented children |
| Mentorship Mode | Conducted in centres of excellence with expert guidance |
| Focus Areas (Initial Phase) | Science and Performing Arts |
| Launch | October 2019 |
📌 Significance: DHRUV channels India’s brightest young minds towards excellence in STEAM and creative fields.
🔬 STRIDE (Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India’s Developing Economy)
Humanities-Focused High-Impact Research
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2019 |
| Aim | Promote research culture, capacity building, and collaborative humanities research |
| Focus | Arts, Indian languages, culture, socially relevant and globally impactful projects |
📌 Significance: Balances the STEM focus in research by empowering social sciences and humanities to contribute to development.
🛠️ TEQUIP – Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme
Quality Upgradation of Technical Institutions
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2003 (Phase I) |
| Objective | Improve technical education, especially in low-income & special category states |
| Support | World Bank-assisted |
| Implementation | Graduates from IITs/NITs are recruited to teach in rural engineering colleges |
📌 Significance: Bridges the urban-rural technical education gap and raises teaching quality standards.
Current Status (As of July 2025): TEQIP-III, the final phase, ended in 2021, and no new phase has been announced since, so it has officially wrapped up.
🎓 EQUIP – Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme
A 5-Year Vision Plan for Transforming Higher Education (2019–24)
| Strategic Themes | Interventions |
| Launched in | 2019 |
| Access | Fee waivers for SC/ST, Samras hostels, finishing schools |
| Underserved Areas | Dual-mode universities, ICT expansion, ODL centres |
| Employability | Vocational education, MOOCs, multi-language access |
📌 Significance: EQUIP operationalizes NEP goals through a long-term structural transformation agenda.
Current Status (As of July 2025): EQUIP remains more of a strategic blueprint than an actively funded program.
🤝 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Promoting Cultural Integration Through State Pairing
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2015 |
| Aim | Strengthen national unity through cross-cultural learning |
| Mechanism | State/UT pairing, common activities, cultural exchanges |
| Activities | Rashtriya Ekta Shivirs by KVS, language learning, art festivals |
📌 Significance: Embodies the constitutional spirit of unity in diversity, relevant for both polity and culture segments.
👧 Udaan: Giving Wings to Girls
Encouraging Girls to Enter STEM Fields
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2014 |
| Aim | Bridge gender gap in enrolment in elite engineering institutions |
| Support | Free study materials via preloaded tablets during Class 11–12 |
| Mode | Both online and offline mentoring for engineering entrance tests |
📌 Significance: Fosters female empowerment in technical education, contributing to inclusive development.
🗺️ Digital Gender Atlas
A Data-Driven Tool to Track Girl Child Education
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2015 |
| Purpose | Identify gender gaps in educational access across India |
| Key Data Sources | U-DISE, EMIS, Census 2011 |
| Analysis Level | National → State → District → Block |
📌 Significance: Enables targeted interventions for marginalized girls based on real-time data.
🧾 Shala Gunvatta (Shagun) Portal
Monitoring and Showcasing School Education
| Feature | Description |
| Launched in | 2017 |
| Purpose | Repository of best practices, media, and case studies |
| Monitoring | Online module for tracking performance against key indicators |
📌 Significance: Combines transparency with performance benchmarking for better school governance.
💳 Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL)
Collateral-Free Education Loans for All
| Feature | Description |
| Launch | 2015 |
| Objective | Encourage banks to give education loans without collateral |
| Loan Limit Covered | Up to ₹7.5 lakh |
| Institutions Covered | Public, private, foreign banks + now Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) |
📌 Significance: Makes higher education accessible to all income groups by reducing financial entry barriers.