Kerala’s Education Rebranding: How Central Schemes Get a Local Name Makeover

New Delhi: In a fascinating display of India’s federal dynamics, educational reform has turned into a political relay race where central schemes are systematically stripped of their Delhi branding and given a distinct local identity upon entering Kerala. This creative rebranding, which critics label a ‘Credit Appropriation’ strategy, ensures the state’s political leadership receives the public praise for schemes primarily funded by the Centre.

​The trend has reached an art form, with every major central initiative undergoing a linguistic and aesthetic makeover.

• ​Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): The Centre’s flagship universal elementary education program has been successfully ‘Kerala-fied’ and now operates as Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK). The name changed, the logo adapted, but the financial allocation remained tied to central funds.
• ​National Curriculum Framework (NCF): A key pillar of the National Education Policy (NEP), the NCF was transformed into the Kerala Curriculum Framework (KCF) after a state-level review. While Kerala has historically championed curriculum independence, the KCF effectively re-spiced the core content with local ‘inclusive and secular values,’ establishing an autonomous identity.
• ​PM SHRI Scheme: The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initially faced an “Entry Restricted” board, with the state government arguing that its own ‘model schools’ were sufficient. However, following the Centre withholding essential education funds—reportedly around ₹1,500 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSK)—Kerala performed a diplomatic U-turn. Schools are now joining the PM SHRI scheme, but the accompanying local fanfare is often branded under the ‘Kerala’s Own Smart School Mission,’ strategically omitting the ‘PM’ initials.
• ​Mid-Day Meal Scheme: The scheme, known nationally as PM-POSHAN, is locally referred to in Kerala as the State Noon Meal Programme. Same objective, same meal, different political label.

​The Underlying Conflict:

​This consistent ‘renaming ritual’ highlights a deeper ideological and financial tension. The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Kerala government fiercely opposes the NEP 2020, viewing it as an attempt to undermine state-specific educational autonomy and introduce a ‘saffronisation’ agenda. However, with states needing central funds for crucial infrastructure and teacher salaries, they are forced to participate in central schemes.

​This tug-of-war often leads to bureaucratic hurdles, delaying the release of funds and consequently impacting classroom activities, teacher grants, and school repairs—a true cost borne by the Indian taxpayer funding both ends of the branding spectrum.

​As the Centre maintains its fondness for prefixing every scheme with ‘PM’ initials to claim credit, the States retaliate by adding their own local labels, turning policy implementation into a high-stakes battle of logos and slogans.