Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) found itself internally divided on Sunday, October 19, 2025. The contention arose from the State government’s proposal to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the BJP-led Central Government. This agreement aims to unlock significant funding under the Prime Minister’s Schools for Raising India (PM SHRI) scheme, but critics fear it’s contingent on adopting the controversial National Education Policy (NEP) across states.
Previously, Kerala, alongside other non-BJP ruled states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, had resisted implementing the PM SHRI scheme. Their hesitation stemmed from the belief that the NEP represented an undue federal intrusion into the domain of general education, a subject falling under the concurrent list, meaning both central and state governments have a say.
Despite this earlier resistance, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty recently indicated a shift in approach. He clarified that signing the MOU does not imply the LDF’s acceptance of the Centre’s attempts to impose the NEP on states by tying it to the release of PM SHRI funds.
Minister Sivankutty emphasized that Kerala has its own distinct education policy, which serves as a national alternative to what he described as ‘insidious efforts’ to saffronise and corporatize education. He pointed out that Kerala has actively resisted attempts to alter Indian history, specifically by retaining curriculum sections that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had controversially removed.
“We’ve introduced new textbooks precisely to counter efforts that distort history or push a ‘revanchist agenda’ aimed at undermining a scientific, secular, and progressive mindset among our students,” Sivankutty stated.
Previously, the Education Minister had indicated that Kerala would consider legal action against the Centre if PM SHRI-linked funds were withheld.
However, Sivankutty argued that Kerala cannot afford to forgo the ₹1,446 crore that the Centre is slated to provide under the PM SHRI scheme.
“The government needs to be pragmatic,” he asserted. “Kerala requires these funds to boost student scholarships, especially for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, to modernize post-matric hostels for disadvantaged students, fund educational research, publish new textbooks, and enhance school infrastructure with modern teaching tools. These funds are also vital for paying the salaries of over 7,000 government school teachers, costs currently borne entirely by the State Government.”
He further noted that other departments, such as Higher Education and Agriculture, have already enrolled in Central schemes despite significant ideological differences, setting a precedent for this approach.
This context is particularly relevant as Kerala, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, received no funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for the fiscal year 2024-25, highlighting the financial pressures faced by these states.
CPI Takes Strong Exception
However, the Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary, Binoy Viswam, expressed strong disapproval. He told The Hindu that the government’s decision to accept PM SHRI funds was both financially disadvantageous and politically misguided.
Viswam pointed out that the PM SHRI scheme, launched in 2022, is set to conclude in 2026-27. He argued that the state would receive only a ‘meagre’ amount, as fund releases depend on timely annual submission of utilization certificates. Given that Kerala has avoided the scheme for almost five years, he believes the Centre will not release funds retroactively.
Viswam asserted that Kerala had previously served as a model for other states by rejecting PM SHRI, which he characterized as the Centre’s attempt to ‘strong-arm’ provincial governments into adopting the ‘reactionary NEP’.
He criticized the NEP for allegedly denying Darwin’s theory of evolution and prioritizing folklore over scientific understanding. “Kerala cannot accept NEP. Our general education model provides a national alternative to the neo-liberal, pro-corporate, and revanchist ideology of the Sangh Parivar,” he declared. “The LDF, a leading force against the BJP’s ‘saffronisation agenda,’ must remain focused on its historical national mission.”
Congress Stance
Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, speaking in Kozhikode, challenged the CPI to demonstrate its commitment to the national cause against the BJP. He urged CPI ministers to formally object to the government’s move within both the LDF and the Cabinet, stating, “Mere saber-rattling and token protests are simply not enough.”