Policy Update
Shivani Chauhan
Background:
The STARS project is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, implemented with financial and technical support from the World Bank. It is part of India’s broader effort to improve the quality, equity, and governance of school education at the elementary and secondary levels.
The scheme was designed to align with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which emphasizes learner‑centric classrooms, foundational literacy and numeracy, and continuous improvement in teaching quality. STARS focuses on strengthening systems that directly affect teaching and learning outcomes, such as teacher development, classroom practices, school leadership, and school‑level assessment.
The project targets selected 6 states across India (Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha), supporting them to implement reforms in teacher training, school management, and data‑driven decision‑making. It also aims to enhance the use of national assessment frameworks (like NAS–National Achievement Survey) to monitor learning outcomes and inform policy. Overall, STARS seeks to ensure that improvements in inputs (infrastructure, materials) are matched by measurable improvements in student learning and school‑level performance.
Functioning:
STARS functions as a centrally supported, state‑implemented program that works through a multi‑level structure. The Ministry of Education, Government of India provides policy direction and overall funding, while the World Bank supports financing and technical assistance.
Selected states and union territories implement the scheme through their own education departments, with support from dedicated project management units (PMUs) or similar structures at the state level.
Operational Mechanism:
Teacher development and training
STARS strengthens pre‑service and in‑service teacher education by upgrading training modules, using digital platforms, and creating cluster‑ and school‑level training programs aligned with NEP 2020.
School‑level improvement
It focuses on improving classroom practices, remedial teaching, and the use of learning‑assessment data to tailor instruction for students who are lagging, especially in foundational literacy and numeracy.
Data and monitoring
The scheme supports better data collection through regular assessments (like NAS) and school‑level monitoring tools, enabling schools and districts to track learning outcomes and adjust interventions.
Decentralized governance
STARS strengthens district and block‑level management units, empowering school leadership (principals, headteachers) and School Management Committees (SMCs) to plan, monitor, and review teaching‑learning activities.
Performance:
The performance of the STARS project has shown measurable progress in selected states, though it is still an ongoing project and overall nationwide impact data are still being compiled. Below is a performance oriented overview, backed by available figures and evidence.
Overall scale and financing
The project has a total estimated cost of about ₹5,718 crore (roughly $500 million), with major funding from the World Bank and the Ministry of Education.
It is being implemented over five years (2021–2025) in a focused group of states, linking funding to learning outcomes and school‑governance improvements. Since its launch, STARS has supported selected states to improve teacher capacity, strengthen school‑level assessment systems, and raise learning outcomes, with evidence of gains in foundational literacy, secondary completion, and governance indices; however, final nationwide impact metrics will be clearer once the project’s full five‑year evaluation cycle is completed.
Source: Ministry of Education, Government of India. STARS (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States) – About STARS
Impact:
The impact of the STARS project has had a broad but still evolving impact, improving systems, participation, and early‑stage learning‑outcome indicators in the six states where it is implemented.
Number of Students, Teachers, and Schools covered under STAR:
Source: Ministry of Education, Government of India. STARS (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States) – About STARS
System‑level and governance impact
STARS has strengthened national and state‑level assessment systems, including support to the National Assessment Centre (PARAKH), leading to more standardized and comparable data on student learning.
It has promoted decentralized management, empowering districts, blocks, and schools to use data for planning, teacher deployment, and remedial‑teaching cycles, shifting emphasis from “inputs only” to actual learning outcomes.
Impact on teaching and learning
The project reaches about 43.97 million students and over 1.51 million teachers across the six states, improving access to better classroom practices, digital tools, and teacher‑training modules aligned with NEP 2020.
Interventions such as Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) and weekly assessments have reached over 30 lakh students in multiple states, with evidence of increased practice in foundational literacy and numeracy, and more frequent feedback to teachers and schools.
Equity and resilience effects
STARS puts special focus on marginalized and vulnerable groups, aiming to reduce gaps by gender, location (rural/urban), and socio‑economic background through targeted support and inclusive curriculum inputs.
Its Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) has helped states respond to shocks (such as school closures during the pandemic), enabling faster rollout of remote‑learning support and protective measures to limit learning loss.
Way Forward:
In the way forward, the gains achieved under the STARS scheme such as strengthened assessment systems, improved teacher training, and decentralized school‑level governance should be institutionalized within the Samagra Shiksha framework and state education departments.
The Government may consider expanding the STARS‑style model to additional states, including Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on data‑driven decision‑making, continuous professional development for teachers, and targeted support for rural and disadvantaged learners.
A successor reform programme, potentially in the form of a “STARS‑II‑type” project supported by multilateral agencies, can further consolidate learning‑outcome improvements and align secondary education with skilling and employment pathways.
References:
Government of India (Press Information Bureau). (2020). Cabinet approves Rs. 5718 crore World Bank aided project STARS. Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India.
iDream Education. (2025). A Closer Look at STARS Project – Strengthening Teaching‑Learning and Results for States. iDream Education.
Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India. (2025). Strengthening Teaching‑Learning and Results for States (STARS). Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Ministry of Education, Government of India. (n.d.). About STARS. Ministry of Education, Government of India.
IPE Global. (2026). Project Management Unit to Support Strengthening Teaching‑Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project in Himachal Pradesh, India. IPE Global.
About the Contributor
Shivani Chauhan is a Research & Editorial intern at IMPRI. She’s pursuing M.A. Education and Development from National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration. Her interest lies in education, public policy and governance.
Acknowledgment
The author extends sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team for their expert guidance and constructive feedback throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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