Budget 2022: Education Expenditure To Cross Rs 1 Lakh Crore In FY22-23

This is Rs 11,053 crore more than the Budget estimate for FY21-22, around 12 per cent growth when compared with the previous Budget estimate

Nirmala Sitharaman has also proposed to set up a digital university to provide education that will be built on a hub and spoke model. Image: Getty

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday kept aside a record Rs 1.04 lakh crore for expenditure on education in her Budget for the next financial year.

This is Rs 11,053 crore more than the Budget estimate for FY21-22, nearly 12 per cent growth when compared with the previous Budget estimate. According to reports, this is the first time expenditure on education set to cross the Rs 1-lakh crore mark.

In FY21-22, the budget for the school education department was Rs 54,873 crore. The department has witnessed an overall boost in the Budget 2022. This time the minister has laid more emphasis on digital modes of learning to reverse learning losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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According to reports, the mid-day meal scheme, which was rebranded as PM-Poshan last year, has seen a drop in central allocation from Rs 11,500 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 10,233 crore in 2022-23. The revised allocation for 2021-22 was also Rs 10,233 crore, indicating that the total fund earmarked for the scheme could not be spent during the ongoing financial year amid long closures of schools.

Sitharaman made announcements to further digital learning mode include expansion of the PM e-VIDYA initiative, proposal to launch a ‘digital university’ and development of e-content in all Indian languages.

The minister in her Budget speech said, “Due to the pandemic induced closure of schools, our children particularly in the rural areas and those from SC and ST communities and other weaker sections have lost almost two years of formal education. Mostly these are children in government schools. We recognise the need to impart supplementary training and to build resilient mechanisms for its delivery.”

Nirmala Sitharaman has also proposed to set up a digital university to provide education that will be built on a hub and spoke model. For accessible higher education in Ladakh, Sitharaman proposed to set up a central university in Leh.

“For accessible higher education in Ladakh. I propose to set up a central university in Leh,” said Sitharaman. “100 new Sainik schools will be set up in partnership with NGOs, private schools, and states. We would be introducing the legislation this year to implement the setting-up of the Higher Education Commission of India,” she added.