On Friday, the Union ministry of education signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal government to implement the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative. This marks a pivotal change after years of resistance from the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration, which had declined to participate due to disagreements with the Centre regarding the scheme's branding and implementation. The MoU was signed at Kartavya Bhawan by Sanjay Kumar and Dheeraj Sahu for the Centre, and Binod Kumar for West Bengal. The PM SHRI initiative, launched in September 2022, aims to upgrade 14,500 existing government schools into model institutions that reflect the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Currently, 13,091 schools have been selected under this centrally sponsored scheme, which follows a 60:40 funding pattern between the Centre and states, with adjustments for northeastern and Himalayan states. Following the recent Assembly elections, West Bengal is now aligned with the Centre's educational reforms, leaving Kerala and Tamil Nadu as the only states yet to sign the MoU.