Union Budget 2025 for Education Sector: FM announces more IIT & medical Seats

Education Budget 2025:  Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman detailed numerous key education-related reforms in her eighth straight Union Budget 2025 focussing on the middle class, national growth, and infrastructure. During her speech, Sitharaman emphasised the government’s commitment to attaining ‘Viksit Bharat’ through poverty elimination and assuring Quality education, as well as inexpensive and comprehensive healthcare.

Among the highlights, there are the expansion of India’s Institutes of Technology (IITs), which were established over the last decade, and the addition of 10,000 new medical college seats in the following year. The Ministry of Education would get a total of Rs 1.28 lakh crore under the Union Budget 2025. This includes an allocation of Rs 50,077.95 crore for higher education and Rs 78,572.10 crore for school education, demonstrating a strong commitment to improving both sectors.

Key Highlights of Union Budget 2025 for Education Sector

Atal Tinkering Labs to Promote Innovation

The finance minister plans to establish 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools over the next 5 years to encourage curiosity, innovation, and a scientific mindset among students.
Broadband connectivity in government secondary schools and primary health care centres
The government’s BharatNet project would provide broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools, emphasising the need of digital infrastructure.

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

Nirmala Sitharama launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, which provides digitised texts in Indian languages for school and higher education. “This aims to help students understand their subjects better,” she told me.

National institutes of excellence for skills

“Five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling will be established with global expertise and partnerships to equip youth with manufacturing skills for ‘Make for India, Make for the World’ initiative, as announced in the July 2024 Budget.” The relationship will include curriculum design, trainer training, a skills certification framework, and periodic reviews, according to the speaker.

Expansion of IIT Infrastructure

In the last decade, the overall student capacity at 23 IITs has increased from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh. To meet rising demand, five IITs built after 2014 will expand their facilities to accommodate 6,500 more students. In addition, IIT Patna plans to expand its hostels and campus.

Centre of Excellence in AI for Education

The government plans to invest Rs 500 crore in establishing a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education, building on earlier AI efforts. The institute will help integrate AI into educational practices and research.

Expanding medical education

In ten years, the government increased UG and PG medical education seats by about 1.1 lakh, or a 130% growth. The finance minister announced plans to expand 10,000 seats at medical colleges and hospitals this year, with a goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next 5 years.

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