Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cabinet has constituted a four-member ministerial sub-committee to examine the implementation of the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme in the state and assess its future course.

General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen will chair the panel. Higher Education Minister Rojy M. John and Ministers P.C. Vishnunath and M. Liju are the other members of the committee.

The state government will formally inform the Centre about the constitution of the sub-committee. The panel has been tasked with conducting a detailed study of the scheme, including examining the legal implications that could arise if Kerala decides to withdraw from it.

According to the Cabinet decision, further action will be taken after the committee submits its report. The government is also expected to take a final call on whether the state should continue with the scheme based on the panel’s findings and recommendations.

Speaking on the issue earlier, Shamsudheen said there had been no change in the government’s political position regarding the PM SHRI scheme. He reiterated Kerala’s objections to certain conditions imposed by the Union government as part of the programme.

The minister also noted that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had similarly appointed a Cabinet sub-committee to study the PM SHRI scheme before taking a decision on its implementation.

The PM SHRI scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at developing selected schools across the country into model institutions aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Kerala has maintained reservations over aspects of the scheme, particularly conditions linked to the implementation of the NEP.