Centre mandates formation of School Management Committees to decentralise school governance

On May 6, 2026, the Ministry of Education announced comprehensive guidelines to decentralise school governance by mandating the formation of School Management Committees (SMCs) and granting them financial and operational powers. The guidelines require every school up to Class 12 to establish an SMC within one month of the academic year start, replacing the existing School Management Development Committees (SMDCs). Under the framework, 75% of SMC members must be parents or guardians, 50% must be women, with the remaining 25% comprising elected local officials, teachers, alumni, and local experts such as Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and academicians. Proportionate representation must also be given to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) including SC, ST, OBC, and Children with Special Needs (CwSN). SMCs have financial and operational powers, including authority to execute all school civil works up to ₹30 lakh; for projects above this threshold, SMCs will participate in public tendering per CPWD/PWD manuals. They will review the school budget, prevent financial irregularities, and maintain accurate records. Two sub-committees will be established: the School Building Committee and the Academic Committee. SMCs will lead drives to bring out-of-school children back, ensure distribution of uniforms, textbooks, and scholarships, and monitor the PM-POSHAN scheme (including daily tasting of meals by members on a rotational basis). They must create a three-year School Development Plan with annual sub-plans detailing class-wise enrollment projections, infrastructure needs, and the need for additional teaching staff. The framework is intended as a flexible reference for States and UTs to harmonise their local rules.