MERITE Scheme Set to Revamp India’s Technical Education Landscape

Cabinet Approval

MERITE Scheme Set to Revamp India’s Technical Education Landscape: The Union Cabinet has cleared the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) programme, a Central Sector scheme worth ₹4,200 crore. The plan will roll out between 2025-26 and 2029-30, covering 275 technical institutes across the country, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnic institutes.

Static GK fact: Central Sector Schemes are entirely financed by the Union Government, unlike Centrally Sponsored Schemes, which involve both central and state funding.

Financial Structure and Rollout

Half of the total outlay—₹2,100 crore—will come as a loan from the World Bank, while the remaining amount will be provided by the central government. The initiative will benefit government-run technical institutions in every State and Union Territory. Strategic collaborators will include IITs, IIMs, AICTE, and NBA.

Static GK fact: The World Bank, founded in 1944, supports development projects worldwide with financial aid and policy guidance.

Advancing Research and Innovation

Under MERITE, institutions will set up innovation labs, incubation centres, and research hubs to enhance problem-solving and invention capacity. A stronger industry-academia partnership will be encouraged to ensure research aligns with market needs.

Building Employability Skills

The curriculum will undergo industry-aligned updates, and students will gain access to skill labs, internships, and maker spaces. Special sessions for language and communication skills will help graduates become more competitive in the job market.

Static GK fact: Maker spaces are collaborative facilities where individuals use shared tools to design, prototype, and innovate.

Strengthening Governance and Quality

The scheme will introduce quality and accreditation frameworks, train academic administrators, and prioritise capacity-building for women faculty members. Interdisciplinary courses will promote learning across engineering, management, and other academic domains.

Impact and Benefits

According to the Ministry of Education, more than 7.5 lakh students will benefit from MERITE. The scheme aims to boost accreditation levels, modernise technical syllabi, improve research productivity, and help States and UTs transition smoothly towards digital education systems.

Static GK Tip: The National Education Policy 2020 promotes multidisciplinary, skill-based, and flexible higher education models.

Leaders’ Perspectives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the initiative a major step to “strengthen research, innovation, and skill development” nationwide. Dharmendra Pradhan described it as a transformative policy for the education sector, while Ashwini Vaishnaw noted its direct alignment with NEP 2020 goals.

Tackling Current Gaps

A 2023 appraisal by the World Bank highlighted limited research output and poor innovation connections in Indian engineering institutions. MERITE intends to address these shortcomings by funding advanced infrastructure, faculty development, and stronger ties with industries.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

MERITE Scheme Set to Revamp India’s Technical Education Landscape: