Kerala Budget proposes accident/life insurance scheme for school students

The Kerala government has enhanced the outlay for general education in the State Budget for the 2026-27 financial year presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal in the Assembly on Thursday (January 29, 2026).

The Budget has earmarked ₹1,128.71 crore for continuing activities related to improving standards and maintaining the State’s achievements in the school education sector. The allocation for school education last year was ₹1,083.82 crore.

A significant announcement in the Budget is an accident/life insurance scheme for students in Classes I to XII. Arrangements for the scheme have been made and an amount of ₹15 crore set aside for it.

The monthly wages of pre-primary teachers has been increased by ₹1,000 and the daily wages of noon-meal workers in schools hiked by ₹25.

Activities to improve academic standards and quality in school education as part of the Comprehensive Quality Education Programme have got ₹56.25 crore. This is more than the allocation last year.

An amount of ₹167 crore has been allocated for primary, secondary and vocational higher secondary categories.

The teacher training and empowerment programme has been earmarked ₹10 crore. An amount of ₹21.25 crore has earmarked for the activities, including preparation of digital textbooks, of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). The SCERT has also begun the process of formulating a special curriculum for sports schools.

An amount of ₹7.4 crore has been earmarked for constructing multi-storeyed buildings for government higher secondary schools; ₹42 crore has been earmarked for modernisation activities, including ₹10 crore for maintaining school facilities and ₹1 crore for effective waste management in schools.

An amount of ₹150.34 crore has been allocated for the free distribution of school uniforms.

Inclusion programmes

A total of ₹102.64 crore is earmarked for continuing inclusion programmes in the education sector. An amount of ₹11 crore has been allocated for the Barrier-Free Schools scheme. An amount of ₹62 crore has been earmarked for giving financial assistance to institutions providing care to children facing intellectual challenges, and ₹10.15 crore set apart for C.H Mohammed Koya Memorial State Institute for the Mentally Challenged.

Scholarship scheme

An amount of ₹7.9 crore is allocated for a scholarship scheme for higher secondary and vocational higher secondary students belonging to the below the poverty line (BPL) category.

The Budget has allocated ₹14.5 crore to ensure continuity in studies, quality of education and progress in the grades of students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

An amount of ₹55 crore is allocated as State share for the Centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme, a huge drop from ₹340 crore last year. In addition to this, an amount of ₹23 crore is earmarked for various activities implemented through the Samagra Shiksha Kerala project directorate.

The allocation for Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education remains unchanged at ₹38.5 crore.

For Midday meal

Besides the State share of ₹150 crore, an additional ₹260.66 crore has been set apart for the midday meal and supplementary nutrition schemes, taking the total to ₹410.66 crore.

An amount of ₹12 crore has been set aside for the Directorate of General Education in order to develop a sports culture to mould healthy students. This amount is ₹7.4 crore more than the allocation last time.