Composite School Grant 2026
There is significant financial relief for government, government-aided and government-sponsored schools in West Bengal. After nearly three years, 80,375 schools across the state are set to receive the full Composite School Grant. A total of ₹296.64 crore has been allocated under the scheme, with the funds being transferred to school accounts through net banking, according to reports.
The Composite School Grant is intended to support the day-to-day functioning of schools, minor infrastructure repairs and routine maintenance.
Schools had not been receiving the full allocation in recent years amid funding-related issues involving the Centre and the state. In 2024-25, the state had initiated the release of 25 per cent of the Composite Grant, according to contemporary reports.
The latest allocation is based on student enrolment figures for 2025, with schools now receiving the full amount applicable to them.
The grant is determined by the number of students enrolled in each school:
This means schools with between 251 and 1,000 students, for example, can receive ₹75,000 under the grant.
The Composite School Grant is designed to meet essential school-level expenses. The funds can be used for minor repairs and maintenance, sanitation, drinking-water facilities, toilet maintenance, electricity bills and internet expenses.
Schools can also use the money for laboratory equipment, sports materials and teaching aids, depending on the applicable guidelines.
The importance of the funding is particularly significant for schools in rural and economically weaker areas. The state government has highlighted that institutions in areas such as the Sundarbans, Purulia and Bankura had faced difficulties even in purchasing basic items such as chalk and dusters.
The ₹296.64 crore allocation is being distributed among 80,375 institutions. The average works out to approximately ₹36,900 per institution, although the actual amount varies according to student enrolment.
The development has also renewed discussion around school-level funding. While several student-focused schemes involve substantial expenditure, teachers and school authorities have repeatedly highlighted the importance of adequate funds for routine school operations and maintenance.
One school-level example cited in the discussion is that a school received several million rupees over three years under student-device-related schemes, while its Composite Grant for school operations was substantially smaller. Such comparisons, however, need to be viewed carefully because student-benefit schemes and the Composite School Grant are separate financial heads with different purposes.
Recent reports state that the Composite Grant follows a 60:40 Centre-state funding structure.
After years of partial or delayed funding, the release of the full Composite School Grant is expected to provide schools with greater flexibility to meet essential operational expenses and carry out minor maintenance work.
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