India, Feb. 1 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the Budget 2026-27, calling it a Yuva Shakti-driven budget that gives a boost to education and employment creation and presents a blueprint for the next phase of development.
The Minister informed that the total budget allocation for the Ministry of Education has reached Rs.1,39,289.48 crore, marking an 8.27% increase over BE 2025-26.
Shri Pradhan stated that the Union Budget 2026-27 is a solid blueprint for fully harnessing Bharat's growth potential, fostering inclusive development across all sections, and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman for delivering a futuristic, yuva-shakti-driven, pro-people, employment-oriented, and growth-stimulating Union Budget 2026-27 that includes everyone, emphasises people's well-being, and brings cheer to all, particularly the poor and middle-class households.
He further said that, inspired by the three Kartavyas of 'accelerating and sustaining economic growth, fulfilling aspirations and building capacities of all, and ensuring every family and community has access to resources, opportunities, and amenities', the Viksit Bharat Budget will spur all-round growth across sectors and promote self-reliance in strategic and frontier areas. This will facilitate ease of living, further invigorate the education, innovation, and skilling landscape, strengthen MSMEs, boost tourism, augment healthcare, and transform Tier-II and Tier-III cities into new growth centres. This will add momentum to the 'Reform Express' for achieving the next phase of India's growth while also ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible gains for over 140 crore citizens.
The Minister said that the three Kartavyas outlined by the Finance Minister, inter alia, focus on strengthening the capacity of the yuva for realising the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The Minister highlighted that India has achieved one of the highest rates of female participation in STEM education globally. To further enhance and encourage the enrolment of girls in STEM institutions and courses, one girls' hostel in every district will be established through Viability Gap Funding and capital support, he added.
He also informed that the Budget proposes the setting up of five University Townships in the vicinity of major industrial and logistics corridors. These planned academic zones will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres, and residential complexes, he added.
He informed that a high-powered 'Education to Employment and Enterprise' Standing Committee has been proposed to recommend measures focusing on the services sector, which is the core driver of Viksit Bharat. The Committee will examine the impact of emerging technologies, including AI, on job and skill requirements. It proposes specific measures for embedding AI in the education curriculum from the school level onwards and upgrading State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) institutes for teacher training, among others.
Shri Pradhan lauded the setting up of India's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. This project aims to provide a platform to two million professionals by 2030 for the growing AVGC sector.
Highlights of Budget Allocation 2026-27
Higher Education
ALLOCATIONS TO MAJOR AUTONOMOUS BODIES (Higher Education)
ALLOCATIONS TO MAJOR SCHEMES (Higher Education)
School Education & Literacy
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
