Government Approves ₹4,200 Crore MERITE Scheme to Boost Technical Education and Research

The Union Cabinet has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme, a ₹4,200 crore Central Sector initiative aimed at improving the quality, equity, and governance of technical education in India. The scheme will be implemented in 275 institutions—175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnic institutes—over a five-year period from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

Funding and Implementation

• Total Outlay: ₹4,200 crore
• World Bank Assistance: ₹2,100 crore loan
• Implementation Period: 5 years (2025–2030)
• Coverage: Government-run engineering institutions and polytechnics in all States and UTs
• Key Partners: IITs, IIMs, AICTE, NBA, and other regulatory bodies

Scheme Objectives

The MERITE scheme is designed to,

• Enhance Research and Innovation
• Establish research hubs, incubation centres, and innovation labs
• Strengthen industry-academia linkages
• Improve Employability Skills
• Update curricula to align with industry needs
• Introduce internships, skill labs, and maker spaces
• Conduct language and communication workshops
• Strengthen Governance and Quality Assurance
• Develop accreditation and quality frameworks
• Train academic administrators, with a focus on women faculty
• Promote Multidisciplinary Learning
• Develop guidelines for multidisciplinary programmes in technical courses
• Encourage collaboration between engineering, management, and other disciplines

Key Outcomes Expected

According to the Education Ministry, the scheme will,

• Benefit over 7.5 lakh students
• Increase accreditation rates for technical institutes
• Modernise technical curricula to be market-aligned
• Boost faculty research productivity and academic-industry linkages
• Prepare states and UTs for digital transformation in education

Government Statements

• PM Narendra Modi called the scheme a step that will “significantly boost research, innovation, and skilling” in India.
• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said MERITE reflects the government’s commitment to “transform and revolutionise India’s education landscape.”
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the policy interventions align closely with the National Education Policy 2020.

Background and Need

The World Bank’s 2023 appraisal report identified low research output and weak innovation linkages in Indian engineering institutions. The MERITE scheme directly addresses these challenges by funding research facilities, faculty development programmes, and industry partnerships.