Union Budget 2025: Record Allocation for Education, AI Excellence Centre Announced

KKN Gurugram Desk | The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has introduced a significant boost in education funding, emphasizing digital learning, research, and infrastructure development. The budget has earmarked a record-high allocation of ₹78,572 crore for school education and ₹50,077.95 crore for higher education, making it the highest-ever allocation in India’s education sector.

This move aims to enhance accessibility, improve quality, and integrate technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education. Additionally, the budget introduces the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, which will make Indian language books available in digital format to help students grasp their subjects more effectively.

Record Allocation for School and Higher Education

The Union Budget 2025 has significantly increased the education budget, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving India’s schooling system and higher education institutions.

✅ School Education Allocation: ₹78,572 crore (Highest-ever allocation for the department)
✅ Higher Education Allocation: ₹50,077.95 crore

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised the budget, stating that it will strengthen research and make quality education more accessible to all students.

The investment will focus on:
🔹 Building modern infrastructure for schools and universities
🔹 Enhancing access to quality education for students from all backgrounds
🔹 Encouraging research and innovation in higher education institutions

Expanding IIT Infrastructure: Boosting Higher Education

A major highlight of Budget 2025 is the expansion of infrastructure in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The Finance Minister announced that the total number of students in IITs has doubled in the past decade, rising from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh.

To support this growing number of students, the government will:
🏗 Expand infrastructure in five IITs established after 2014
🎓 Facilitate education for 6,500 more students across these IITs
🏠 Expand hostel and academic infrastructure at IIT Patna

This move aims to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and create better opportunities for students pursuing technical and scientific fields.

Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Education

Recognizing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming education, the government has announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education, with an initial budget of ₹500 crore.

The Union Education Ministry emphasized that this initiative will:
✔️ Harness AI to address educational disparities
✔️ Improve learning outcomes and accessibility
✔️ Ensure equitable and high-quality education across India

AI-driven education can personalize learning, provide real-time feedback, and enhance digital classrooms, making it a game-changer in India’s educational landscape.

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme: Digital Learning in Indian Languages

A major step towards inclusive education is the introduction of the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, which aims to provide Indian language books in digital format.

📚 Key benefits of the scheme:
✅ Helps students learn in their native language
✅ Makes educational resources more accessible
✅ Promotes multilingual education aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP)

This initiative is expected to bridge the language gap in education and empower students from regional and rural backgrounds.

Why This Budget is a Game Changer for Education?

The Union Budget 2025 reflects the government’s long-term vision for transforming India’s education system. Key takeaways include:

📌 Highest-ever allocation for education to strengthen schools and universities
📌 Infrastructure expansion in IITs, providing opportunities to thousands of students
📌 Centre of Excellence in AI for Education, integrating technology into learning
📌 Digital education in Indian languages, making education more inclusive and accessible

With these reforms, India is moving towards a more technology-driven, research-focused, and inclusive education system.

Final Thoughts: How Will Budget 2025 Impact Students and Educators?

The record investment in education signals a major shift towards improving infrastructure, digital learning, and research capabilities. Students will benefit from better facilities, more opportunities, and access to advanced technologies like AI. Meanwhile, educators will have more resources to enhance teaching methodologies.

This education-focused budget is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s future workforce, boosting innovation, and ensuring equal learning opportunities for all.

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