The Ministry of Education issued new guidelines for School Management Committees (SMCs) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 . These directives align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 . They aim to boost community involvement in schools from pre-primary to class 12.
New SMC Guidelines Issued
The new guidelines replace existing mandates for SMCs. They serve as a template for states to develop their own protocols. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated these committees must be integrated into school culture.
Parent Leadership and Membership
Recommendations suggest elected parents or guardians chair the SMCs. The principal or school head will act as the member secretary. The guidelines propose two sub-committees: one for academic affairs and one for infrastructure development.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, requires SMCs to have representatives from parents and faculty. Parents and guardians must form three-fourths of the membership. Women must constitute at least half of the total members. These committees oversee development and grant management.
Committee Size and Composition
Recommended SMC sizes vary based on school enrollment. Schools with up to 100 students should have 12 to 15 members. Mid-sized schools (100-500 students) should have 15 to 20 members. Larger schools with over 500 students require 20 to 25 members.
Beyond parents as leaders, committees will include guardians from each grade level. Officials, teachers, and school heads are also members. Participation from alumni, experts, and frontline health workers is encouraged.
Operational Details and Oversight
SMCs will monitor initiatives like PM-POSHAN and NIPUN Bharat. They will manage resource mobilization. Oversight extends to projects valued up to Rs. 30 lakh.
To ensure transparency, the school head will initiate member elections at the start of each academic session. Committee members will serve a two-year term.
