Budget 2025 includes ₹500 crore for an AI Centre of Excellence, broadband for schools, expanded IITs, and more funding for Indian knowledge systems.
There is a 7% increase for higher education compared to last year’s revised estimates, but actual 2023-24 spending was 10% higher than the 2025-26 estimates.
UGC reforms, such as four-year degrees and bi-annual admissions, require substantial funding, which will likely fall on State governments. The budget does not address these financial needs.
The ASER 2024 report highlights ongoing gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), despite recovery from COVID-19 learning losses.
Full FLN achievement is a target for 2026-27 under the NIPUN Bharat scheme.
School education gets an additional ₹11,000 crore, a 16% increase, but it remains a small portion of the total budget (1.55%).
National Education Policy (NEP): The NEP's 5+3+3+4 system, prioritizing early education, is essential for FLN, but there is a gap in the quality of early education provided by underpaid anganwadi workers.
Achieving full FLN is crucial for India’s skilled workforce and demographic advantage.
The government must strengthen investments in school education to meet FLN targets.
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