Government grants budgetary support of approximately Rs 4,200 crores for the MERITE scheme, aiming at transforming technical education.
The Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme, a landmark initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2025, aims to transform the landscape of technical education in India. With a total outlay of ₹4,200 crore, half of which is financed through a loan from the World Bank, the scheme is set to revolutionize the academic quality and employability of students in 275 government and government-aided technical institutions across the country.
The MERITE scheme targets 175 engineering institutions and 100 polytechnics, including National Institutes of Technology (NITs), State Engineering Institutions, Polytechnics, Affiliating Technical Universities, and associated state and UT technical education departments. The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 7.5 lakh students across all states and union territories.
The main objectives of MERITE are to enhance quality, equity, and governance in technical education, drive digitalisation strategies, develop guidelines for multidisciplinary programs, increase student learning outcomes and employability skills, strengthen research and innovation ecosystems, improve quality assurance mechanisms and expand accreditation, develop future academic administrators, promote faculty skill upgradation, and address gender gaps in technical education.
The scheme emphasizes improving governance and institutional accreditation mechanisms, and is designed to tackle three major challenges in technical education: uneven quality, lack of access, and outdated governance structures. To achieve these goals, MERITE encourages collaboration with premier institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and regulatory bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Board of Accreditation (NBA).
The MERITE scheme is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and is being launched as a Central Sector Scheme. It is a five-year program, spanning from 2025-26 to 2029-30. The scheme includes the introduction of digitalisation strategies, the development of guidelines for multidisciplinary technical programs, and improvements in student learning and employability.
In summary, MERITE is a comprehensive, five-year program aimed at revolutionizing technical education by fostering multidisciplinary learning, digital skills, research, and inclusive governance across 275 targeted institutions, benefiting approximately 7.5 lakh students nationwide. The scheme is expected to directly address the challenges in technical education and promote a more equitable, accessible, and high-quality technical education system in India.
- Business insiders are keenly awaiting the potential impact of the MERITE scheme on the finance sector, as it aims to significantly boost the employability of technical students.
- The news of the MERITE scheme's emphasis on environmental sustainability has sparked discussions in education-and-self-development forums, as it plans to promote green technology and sustainable practices within technical institutions.
- The MERITE scheme's investment in digitalisation and multidisciplinary programs could have far-reaching implications for the technology industry, fostering innovation and technological advancements.
- Critics and opinion-makers have expressed their views on the MERITE scheme, debating its potential influence on personal growth and learning by improving the quality and accessibility of technical education.
- With the MERITE scheme's focus on faculty skill upgradation and gender equality, the scheme may reshape the landscape of technical education, setting new standards for equality and fostering a more inclusive learning environment.
