Education and Skilling: Budgetary Expansion and Structural Reforms
- The Union Budget increased Education Ministry allocation to about ₹1.39 lakh crore.
- This reflects a 14.21% rise over the revised estimates of the previous fiscal year.
- The majority of the increase was directed towards the Department of School Education and Literacy.
- Atal Tinkering Labs allocation rose sharply from ₹500 crore to ₹3,200 crore.
- Samgra Shiksha scheme received an additional ₹4,100 crore over 2025–26 revised estimates.
- The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan allocation increased by approximately ₹600 crore.
- PM Poshan scheme allocation rose by nearly ₹2,150 crore to strengthen school nutrition.
Infrastructure for Higher Education and Employment Linkages
- The Budget announced five university townships near major industrial and logistics corridors.
- These townships aim to align higher education with regional industrial demand.
- A girls’ hostel in every district was proposed to improve STEM participation.
- A high-powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee was announced.
- The committee will focus on the services sector as a driver of Viksit Bharat.
- It will identify growth-oriented sub-sectors and emerging technology impacts on employment.
- The panel will recommend AI integration in school curricula and teacher training reforms.
- State Councils for Educational Research and Training will be upgraded for skill alignment.
- Tax Collected at Source for overseas education was reduced from 5% to 2%.
Skilling Initiatives and Creative Economy Promotion
- The Skill Development Ministry allocation increased to ₹9,885.8 crore, a 62% rise.
- Most funding supports the PM Skilling and Employability Transformation Scheme.
- The scheme received ₹6,081.8 crore for upgrading Industrial Training Institutes.
- Content Creator Labs will be set up in 15,000 secondary schools.
- Five hundred colleges will also host these labs to promote AVGC sector pathways.
- Another National Institute of Design is proposed for eastern India.
Sports Manufacturing and Youth Development
- First-time ₹500 crore allocation for sports goods manufacturing.
- Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry budget increased to ₹4,479.88 crore.
- Sports Authority of India allocation raised to ₹917.38 crore.
- Khelo India Programme funded with ₹924.35 crore.
- Budget for anti-doping institutions reduced, raising compliance concerns.
- Government aims to position India as a global hub for affordable sports equipment.