The Union Cabinet approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme on August, 2025, to upgrade 275 technical institutions across India. The scheme, developed in collaboration with the World Bank, is a five-year initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Key details of the MERITE scheme
- Budget and funding: The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹4,200 crore for 2025–26 to 2029–30, with ₹2,100 crore provided by the World Bank and the remainder from the Central Government.
- Beneficiaries: The scheme is expected to benefit around 7.5 lakh students across 275 government and government-aided institutions, including 175 engineering colleges, 100 polytechnics, selected NITs, State Engineering Institutions, and Affiliating Technical Universities.
- Objectives: MERITE aims to enhance the quality, equity, and governance of technical education through industry-aligned training, strengthening research, developing academic administrators (especially women), promoting multidisciplinary education, and improving quality assurance.
Major interventions
The scheme includes key interventions such as updating curricula, providing internship opportunities, establishing research hubs and incubation centers, supporting faculty development, implementing digitalization strategies, and creating skill and maker labs.
Implementation and collaboration
MERITE will be implemented in government institutions nationwide, with a Central Nodal Agency managing funds. Collaboration will involve institutions like IITs and IIMs, and regulatory bodies such as AICTE and NBA.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The MERITE Scheme is designed to significantly improve the quality of technical education in India.
Statement II: The scheme is strategically aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its focus on creating a multidisciplinary, innovative, and skill-driven education system.
Statement III: It includes a wide range of interventions such as enhancing faculty skills, establishing research hubs, and updating curricula to meet labor market demands.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Answer: a
Explanation: Statement I is correct- The primary goal of the MERITE (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education) Scheme is to enhance the quality of technical education. This is explicitly stated in the objectives, which aim to improve quality, equity, and governance in participating institutions. Statement II is correct and explains Statement II- The scheme’s foundation is built upon the vision of NEP 2020, which promotes multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and skill development. This alignment ensures that the scheme’s interventions are purposeful and targeted towards a holistic improvement of the education system, directly addressing the assertion of improving technical education quality. Statement III is also correct and further explains Statement I- The specific interventions under the MERITE scheme, such as faculty development programs, establishing research and innovation hubs, and updating curricula, are the concrete actions taken to achieve the goals set out by NEP 2020. These actions directly lead to the asserted outcome of improved technical education quality by enhancing the skills of both educators and students.
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