Top News

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on Sunday, proposed significant relief and a new direction for the education sector. This year's budget placed a strong emphasis on strengthening the education system. The government has allocated over ₹1.39 lakh crore for education, which has been divided between school education and higher education.

The Ministry of Education has received a total of ₹1,39,289 crore in this budget. Of this, approximately ₹83,562 crore has been allocated to the Department of School Education and Literacy, while ₹55,727 crore has been earmarked for higher education. The government aims to strengthen educational infrastructure from villages to cities and provide better facilities for students.

Several new schemes have been announced in the budget. Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda will be opened in the country, and states will be assisted in establishing five new universities. Significantly, the establishment of a girls' hostel in every district of the country has been announced. This is considered a major step in the field of girls' education, providing significant relief to female students coming from remote areas to study.

Major Boost for the Biopharma Sector
However, the digital education and online learning sectors were once again disappointed on the GST front. EdTech companies, coaching centers, and students have long been demanding a reduction in the 18% GST, but no such relief was announced in this budget.

The government has announced plans to invest ₹10,000 crore over the next five years to lay the foundation for a strong biopharma sector, aiming to make India a global biopharma manufacturing hub. Additionally, three new NIPERs (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research) will be opened, and seven existing institutions will be upgraded to promote pharmaceutical education.

AI and Youth-Driven Innovation
AI applications and youth-driven innovation were also a key part of this budget. Content creator labs will be established in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country. This will boost sectors such as animation, gaming, visual effects, and comics. In addition, plans have been announced to upgrade Ayush pharmacies and increase the number of professionals by opening veterinary colleges.

Connecting health and education, the establishment of emergency and trauma care centers in district hospitals has been announced, which will increase their capacity by up to 50 percent. States will also be assisted in developing regional medical hubs.

Making Youth Industry-Ready
The Finance Minister stated that a permanent high-level committee will be formed with the objective of linking education to employment and entrepreneurship. This committee will work on better coordination between skills, technology, and employment in the future so that India can become a global leader in the service sector by 2047.  Overall, Budget 2026 has taken significant steps, recognizing education as the backbone of the country's future.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.