India’s Education Budget 2025-26: A Record ₹1.28 Lakh Crore Push for Innovation, Skilling, and Research—Empowering Youth, Advancing Digital Learning, and Strengthening Bhartiya Gyan Parampara for Viksit Bharat 2047.
New Delhi, February 1, 2025 – The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated a record-breaking ₹128,650 crore for the Ministry of Education, marking a 6.22% increase over the previous fiscal year’s budget estimates. Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the budget, emphasizing its vision for an inclusive and progressive education system that fosters innovation, skilling, and research, aligning with the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda.
Key Announcements for School Education
- 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs: The government will establish 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in government schools over the next five years to promote curiosity, scientific temper, and innovation among students.
- Broadband Connectivity for Schools: Under the BharatNet project, all government secondary schools will receive broadband connectivity within the next three years, enhancing digital education access.
- Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme: A new initiative to provide Indian language books in digital format, enabling students to learn in their native languages.
- Gyan Bharatam Mission: A significant initiative to preserve and document over one crore manuscripts, ensuring the conservation of India’s rich knowledge heritage.
- National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge Systems: This repository will facilitate knowledge sharing and research based on traditional Indian wisdom.
Higher Education and Research Boost
- Expansion of IITs: Five IITs established post-2014 will get new infrastructure, increasing their capacity by 6,500 students.
- 10,000 PM Research Fellowships: The government will provide 10,000 fellowships under the PM Research Fellowship Scheme to promote technological research in IITs and IISc.
- ₹20,000 crore for Private Sector-Driven R&D: To accelerate research, development, and innovation, the government has allocated ₹20,000 crore for projects driven by the private sector.
- Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education: With a ₹500 crore outlay, this center will integrate AI into education to improve learning outcomes and bridge gaps in quality education.
- Five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling: These centers, in collaboration with global partners, will equip youth with manufacturing skills aligned with ‘Make for India, Make for the World’.
Record Allocation for School Education
The Department of School Education & Literacy received its highest-ever allocation of ₹78,572 crore, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous year’s estimates. Major highlights include:
- Samagra Shiksha: Budget increased by ₹3,750 crore.
- PM-POSHAN (Mid-day Meal Scheme): Increased by ₹32 crore.
- PM-SHRI Schools: Boosted by ₹1,450 crore, a 66% increase over revised estimates of 2024-25.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): Allocation increased to ₹9,503 crore, marking a 9% rise.
Higher Education Budget Overview
The Department of Higher Education received an allocation of ₹50,077.95 crore, witnessing a 5.16% increase over the previous year. Key investments include:
- Central Universities: ₹16,691.31 crore (4.79% increase).
- University Grants Commission (UGC): ₹3,335.97 crore, marking a 33.44% increase.
- IITs: ₹11,349 crore, up by 9.92%.
- NITs: ₹5,687.47 crore, an increase of 12.85%.
- IIMs: ₹251.89 crore, reflecting an 18.7% rise.
- Grants for Promotion of Indian Languages: ₹347.03 crore, an 11.91% increase.
Minister’s Vision for the Future
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated that this forward-looking budget strengthens Bhartiya Gyan Parampara while integrating modern technology and global expertise into India’s education and skilling ecosystem. With a special focus on youth empowerment, digital transformation, and academic excellence, the government aims to create a robust education infrastructure that will drive India towards becoming a global knowledge hub.
This historic investment in education will bridge regional disparities, promote inclusive growth, and equip India’s youth with world-class skills, setting the stage for a developed India by 2047.
