Centre issues SMC guidelines 2026 for better school governance

The Centre on Wednesday launched the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026, underscoring the need for stronger community participation, improved school infrastructure and updated pedagogy in line with the National Education Policy 2020.

Addressing the inaugural event attended by education ministers from several States and senior officials, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan underlined that SMCs are not a new concept but have evolved over time and remain central to improving learning outcomes and governance in schools. He said that as the academic cycle progresses, “we first review what was taught in the previous year - this becomes the foundation for the next phase of learning.”

Describing SMCs as a bridge between society and schools, he said, “The School Management Committee must act as a bridge between society, education, students and teachers.”

The School Management Committee Guidelines 2026 introduced several key reforms, including a single SMC for all classes from Balvatika to Class 12, aimed at strengthening school-level governance and continuity in decision-making. The guidelines clearly define the roles and responsibilities of SMCs and Member Secretary, with a focus on improved accountability, transparency and financial oversight in school management. They also emphasise proactive monitoring of student attendance and teacher engagement to enhance learning outcomes.

A key feature of the framework is school development planning and social audit mechanisms, designed to enhance community participation and ensure better oversight of school functioning.

The guidelines further promote a whole-of-Government convergence approach, integrating multiple departments and schemes for more effective implementation at the school level.

In addition, they incorporate several ongoing initiatives such as Vidyanjali, Eco-Clubs, Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS), PRASHAST App, School Infrastructure Safety, and Disaster Preparedness programmes, aimed at making schools safer, more participatory and learning-focused environments.

The guidelines state that “every school should constitute an SMC within one month of the start of the academic year” and that elections of SMC must be conducted “in a democratic, transparent, and inclusive manner”.

The number of members of the committee may be decided based on the enrolment of the children   12 to 15 members for schools with up to 100 students, 15 to 20 members for enrolments between 100 and 500, and 20 to 25 members for schools with over 500 students.

The guidelines mandate that 75 per cent of an SMC’s strength must comprise parents or guardians of children, while 50 per cent of all members must be women. Proportionate representation has also been mandated for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), including SC, ST, OBC communities and children with special needs (CwSN).

The term of the members of the SMC shall be for two years. The SMC may continue beyond the term of two years till the new committee has been reconstituted, it added.

On financial management, the guidelines specify that “all civil works costing up to Rs 30 lakh may be executed by the SMC”. All SMC funds are to be maintained in a separate joint bank account in the names of the chairperson and member secretary, it added.

Emphasising collective responsibility in education, Pradhan said, “The School Management Committee should become a social movement. The success of the National Education Policy 2020 depends on society taking ownership of it.” He further noted that Government efforts alone are not sufficient. “Governments have limitations, but beyond that, who will provide the ‘extra push’? That is the role of the School Management Committee,” he said.