The scheme was launched in the State of Jammu & Kashmir in 2009 with the
objective to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality.
The scheme is implemented through Noor Society in the State. It is envisaged to
achieve enrolment at secondary stage within 5 years of implementation of the
scheme by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of any
habitation. The other objectives include improving quality of education imparted
at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed
norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, providing
universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e., by the end of 12th
Five Year Plan and achieving universal retention by 2020.