In a significant decision, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Tuesday that 846 schools in Maharashtra will be comprehensively developed under the 'Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India' scheme, which was launched last September.

The state has signed an agreement with the Centre to implement the National Education Policy 2020 in the state.

Over 15,000 schools in India, including 846 in Maharashtra, will be developed into premier institutions providing high-quality education for students in the first phase.

The Central government will contribute Rs 1.88 crore, and the state will contribute Rs 75 lakh for each school over a five-year period in a 60:40 partnership.

The Centre will provide nearly Rs 956 crore for the 846 schools, while the state will contribute Rs 634.50 lakh to the scheme's implementation.

Schools from 408 groups, 28 municipal corporations, and 383 other civic bodies will be chosen for development in the PM SHRI's second phase.

Students will receive experiential learning through these schools and will be evaluated based on their conceptual understanding as well as application of knowledge in real-life situations, according to Shinde.

Former students of the schools will be involved with these schools to provide career guidance and educational support to the students, and if students drop out for any reason, they will be re-admitted.

The PM SHRI schools will be developed primarily on 6 major pillars, like Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment; access and infrastructure; Human Resources and School Leadership; Inclusive practices and beneficiary satisfaction; management, supervision, and administration; and Beneficiary satisfaction.

The implementation will be through a committee headed by the school education minister at the state level and by other officials like CEO, municipal commissioner, etc., at the district and civic levels.