Delhi govt approves Rs 900 cr for smart classrooms

In a major step toward transforming public education in the capital, the Delhi Cabinet has approved an ambitious funding of over ₹900 crore to expand digital infrastructure in government schools. The announcement was made following the 10th Cabinet Meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, as part of a broader vision to modernize classrooms in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

As part of this initiative, 2,446 smart blackboards will be installed across 75 Chief Minister (CM) Shri Schools—a new category of model government schools focused on academic excellence. Additionally, the government will set up 18,966 new smart classrooms for students in Classes 9 to 12, to be completed in five phases. With these additions, the total number of smart classrooms in Delhi’s government schools will reach 21,412 by the academic year 2029–30, bringing classroom technology in line with national recommendations under the NEP 2020.

The NEP 2020, introduced by the Central Government, emphasizes technology integration in education, promoting smart teaching tools and digital learning environments across schools and higher education institutions in India.

Education Minister Ashish Sood, while briefing the media, unveiled this comprehensive digital classroom expansion plan and emphasized that tenders for the installations have already been floated. A tender, in this context, refers to a formal invitation for companies to bid for the contract to supply and install the smart classroom infrastructure.

In a pointed comparison to the previous administration, Sood criticized the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) government, stating that between 2014 and 2024, only 799 classrooms had been equipped with smart blackboards — and those were not government-funded but rather installed through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) contributions. CSR refers to voluntary efforts by companies to support social development projects, often used in education, health, and environment sectors. According to Sood, this is the first significant step by the BJP-led government to make Delhi’s public schools “better than private schools” in terms of quality and infrastructure.

In addition to the education push, the Cabinet also cleared funds for broader district-level development. Rs 33 crore was sanctioned for the District Project Fund, and another Rs 20 crore for the Integrated District Project Fund, aimed at supporting local infrastructure and welfare projects across all 11 administrative districts of Delhi. This means each district will receive ₹3 crore to implement targeted community development efforts.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta outlined that these funds would be utilized for a range of civic improvement projects — including school and dispensary repairs, public toilets, parks, cow shelter maintenance, installation of street lights and CCTV cameras, drain cleaning, pond rejuvenation, and flood control measures. The execution of these projects will involve multiple departments such as the PWD (Public Works Department), MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), and Irrigation and Flood Control.

Together, these decisions signal a strong commitment by the Delhi government to elevate the standard of public services — particularly in education — and to bring about technology-enabled learning, district-level empowerment, and transparent development planning. The investments mark a clear shift toward aligning with national education and development goals, while also addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps in the capital.

Explore more on UPSC Content

Click for Daily Quotes:

Stay updated with the latest news by joining our Telegram channel – The PRESS Pad , and follow us on Instagram and X.