The budget for the upcoming financial year 2023-2024, released by the Union Finance Minister Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman on 1st Feb 2022 and has immediately garnered the attention of leaders, economists and politicians across the country. For the first time in three years, the budget looks promising for the education sector as it mentions ‘constant upskilling and increasing digitisation’ would be the main target.
With respect to the NEP 2020, which states at least 6 per cent of the country’s GDP should be set aside for the education sector, India has never been able to reach that target. This year however, it has caught the interest of the people as the government manifested the dream by allocating 104277.72 crores to the education sector for the next financial year. Of these 104277.72 crores, 63, 499.37 crores have been allocated to the Department of School Education and Literacy, and Rs 40,828.35 crore to the Department of Higher Education. The budget also states the establishment of 157 nursing colleges in core areas. The total budget allocated to the education sector has increased from 94,853.64 crores in 2020 to 104,277.72 crores in 2023
Other important takeaways include:
- A digital library of national interest will be created for children and adolescents with respect to the diversity of the nation and will be device agonistic in nature.
- Multidisciplinary courses for medical devices will be hosted by existing institutions for skilled manpower for the operation of futuristic medical technologies and research.
- Physical libraries are entitled to receive from National Book Trusts and Children Book Trusts in the English language.
- A total of 38,800 teachers and support staff will be recruited in the next three years for 750 Ekalavya Schools which serve 3.5 lakh tribal students. Eklavya Model Residential Schools as they are known have been allocated an extra 581.96 crore for working optimally this year. In total, it received 2000 crore for the upcoming calendar as against 1418.04 crores for the 2021-2022 period. This scheme will aid the residential schools run by tribal people themselves.
- Integrated online training programs will also be upgraded for civil servant aspirants. Capacity-building programs are also being initiated by the centre, state and union territories under the Karma Yogi Scheme. An online integrated training platform has been launched by the government. It aims to provide continuous learning opportunities for government employees to upskill themselves and enforce a people-centric approach.
- ICMR Labs will provide select facilities for research to outsiders. A new program will be authenticated for innovations in the pharmaceutical sector. The new nursing colleges will be established adjacent to the medical colleges existing since 2014.
- Teacher Training Programs will be reorganized and planned with the introduction of approaches like innovative pedagogy, curriculum, continuous professional developments, curriculum transactions, ICT implementation and dipstick surveys.
- The district institute of education and training will be re-organised as a vibrant centre of excellence.
- 100 laboratories will be established in engineering colleges across the country in association with banks, regulators, and authorities, to create innovative applications using 5G services. These labs will cover a range of topics like smart classrooms, intelligent transport systems, precision framing, and even health applications.
- Skill India International Centers will be established across the country to prepare candidates for international opportunities.
- A unified apprenticeship program is also being envisioned for direct benefit transfers to support 47 lakh youth in the next three years.
- Centre for excellence for Artificial Intelligence will also be set up in colleges and will also be made in premium educational institutes to fulfil accomplish the ‘Make AI In India’ and ‘Make AI work in India’ goals.
- To reduce the cost of imported diamonds, the Government will provide an R&D grant to one of the IITs to encourage indigenous and lab-grown diamonds
- The fourth version of PM Vikash Kaushal Yojana will also be launched!
