📋 Tender Overview
Replying today an un-starred question of Shri P P Chaudhary and Smt Smita Udayawagh the Union Minister of State For Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Tribal Affairs , has been established to manage and implement the scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in co-ordination with State EMRS Societies. NESTS have been undertaken several policy-level reforms to ensure standardisation and quality across all Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). Key reforms include:
Standardised Infrastructure Norms - Development and implementation of uniform design and construction guidelines for EMRS campuses, hostels, and ancillary facilities to ensure parity in quality and amenities across States/UTs.
Model EMRS Guidelines - Issuance of comprehensive operational guidelines covering school governance, admission procedures, staffing norms, academic planning, and student welfare measures.
Centralised Recruitment Framework - Introduction of a structured recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure merit-based, transparent selection and uniform service conditions.
Curriculum and Pedagogy Alignment - Integration of CBSE-affiliated curriculum with region-specific contextual learning, along with adoption of digital learning tools and remedial education mechanisms.
Quality Assurance and Monitoring -Engagement of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) and IITs as Third-party quality assurance agency for quality control and engagement of retired technical consultants for monitoring and supervision of construction of EMRSs.
Capacity Building Programmes - Regular training and professional development initiatives for principals, teachers, and administrative staff to maintain high teaching standards and effective school management.
Student-Centric Welfare Policies - Implementation of policies ensuring 100% free education, boarding, and lodging, as well as provisions for sports, co-curricular activities, and career guidance.
ICT Integration - Rollout of smart classrooms, digital content libraries, and management information systems (MIS) for academic, administrative, and financial tracking.
These reforms collectively aim to deliver a standardised, high-quality educational environment across all EMRSs, while addressing the specific needs of tribal students.
In the Union Budget 2018-19, the Government of India announced that, to provide quality education to tribal children in their own environment, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) would be established in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per Census 2011). In addition to the 288 EMRSs sanctioned under Article 275(1), a further 440 EMRSs were proposed across the country, bringing the total to 728 EMRSs to be established nationwide. As of 31.07.2025, a total of 722 EMRSs have been sanctioned, of which 485 have been made functional.
The expansion of EMRSs directly benefits local tribal communities by providing free, high-quality, CBSE-affiliated education to children within or near their own environment. With well-equipped hostels, classrooms, laboratories, and sports facilities, EMRSs ensure holistic development, including academic, physical, and extracurricular growth of tribal students. In addition, students receive free boarding, nutritious meals, healthcare, and career guidance, contributing to their overall well-being and readiness for higher education and competitive careers. Collectively, these measures enhance educational attainment, promote social inclusion, and empower tribal communities economically and socially.
State-wise sanctioned and operational status of EMRSs, including Maharashtra, as on 31.07.2025, is as under:-
Sl. No
State / UT
EMRS Sanctioned
EMRS Functional
1
Andhra Pradesh
28
28
2
Arunachal Pradesh
10
5
3
Assam
17
1
4
Bihar
3
2
5
Chhattisgarh
75
75
6
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
1
1
7
Gujarat
47
44
8
Himachal Pradesh
4
4
9
Jammu & Kashmir
6
6
10
Jharkhand
90
51
11
Karnataka
12
12
12
Kerala
4
4
13
Ladakh
3
0
14
Madhya Pradesh
71
63
15
Maharashtra
39
37
16
Manipur
21
5
17
Meghalaya
37
0
18
Mizoram
17
11
19
Nagaland
22
3
20
Odisha
111
47
21
Rajasthan
31
30
22
Sikkim
4
4
23
Tamil Nadu
8
8
24
Telangana
23
23
25
Tripura
21
6
26
Uttar Pradesh
4
3
27
Uttarakhand
4
4
28
West Bengal
9
8
Total
722
485
The construction cost of EMRSs is Rs37.80 crore in plain areas and Rs48 crore in hilly areas. The status of new EMRS building constructed in last three year including Maharashtra is as under:-
S.No.
Name of State
New EMRS Building Completed
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
1
Andhra Pradesh
5
6
3
2
Arunachal Pradesh
3
2
0
3
Assam
0
1
5
4
Bihar
0
0
1
5
Chhattisgarh
1
0
6
6
Gujarat
2
2
0
7
Himachal Pradesh
0
0
0
8
Jammu & Kashmir
0
0
0
9
Jharkhand
8
8
20
10
Karnataka
0
0
0
11
Kerala
0
0
0
12
Madhya Pradesh
1
10
2
13
Maharashtra
2
0
5
14
Manipur
1
0
1
15
Meghalaya
1
0
0
16
Mizoram
0
0
3
17
Odisha
1
10
13
18
Rajasthan
7
1
5
19
Sikkim
0
0
0
20
Tamil Nadu
5
0
0
21
Telangana
4
1
3
22
Tripura
0
2
2
23
Uttar Pradesh
2
0
0
24
Uttarakhand
1
0
0
25
West Bengal
0
0
0
Total
44
