In News:

The Union Cabinet has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) Scheme with a total outlay of ?4,200 crore (2025–26 to 2029–30). This includes ?2,100 crore World Bank loan assistance. The scheme seeks to transform India’s technical education landscape in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

Coverage

• Institutions: 275 government/government-aided technical institutions (175 engineering institutions + 100 polytechnics).
• Beneficiaries: Around 7.5 lakh students across all States and Union Territories.
• Stakeholders: National Institutes of Technology (NITs), State Engineering Institutions, Affiliating Technical Universities (ATUs), with implementation support from IITs, IIMs, AICTE, and NBA.

Objectives

• Improve quality, equity, and governance in technical education.
• Align curricula with labour market requirements.
• Strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem.
• Support State/UT technical education departments in digitalization and quality assurance.

Key Focus Areas

1. Digital Transformation: ICT-enabled learning, blended teaching models.
2. Multidisciplinary Programs: Introduction of NEP-2020 aligned technical courses.
3. Skill & Employability Enhancement: Internships, industry-linked curricula, language labs, skill/maker labs.
4. Research and Innovation: Establishing research hubs, incubation centres, innovation labs.
5. Faculty & Governance: Faculty development programs, creation of academic administrators with focus on women leadership.
6. Accreditation & Quality Assurance: Strengthening institutional governance and accountability.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased student employability and higher placement rates.
• Improved research output and innovation ecosystem.
• Greater equity and inclusion in technical education, with emphasis on reducing gender gaps and digital divide.
• Enhanced global competitiveness of Indian technical institutions.

Employment Generation Impact

By modernising technical education and strengthening linkages with industry, MERITE is expected to:

• Improve fresh graduates’ placement prospects.
• Foster entrepreneurship through incubation and innovation centres.
• Contribute to reducing unemployment among engineering graduates.

Background and Significance

India’s sustainable and inclusive growth hinges on technological advancement, which demands upgraded academic and research standards. MERITE builds upon NEP-2020 reforms such as curriculum revamp, skill development, interdisciplinary learning, and enhanced governance. Importantly, it integrates global expertise through the World Bank partnership.

The scheme also ensures participatory governance, incorporating feedback from States/UTs during policy design, thereby strengthening cooperative federalism in higher education reform.