New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her Budget speech announced the establishment of fifty thousand Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools over the next five years
Additionally, recognizing the crucial role of digital infrastructure in education, the government plans to expand broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools under the BharatNet project. To further support multilingual education, Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme is introduced.
Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education has received an investment of Rs 500 crore. This institution will focus on integrating AI into educational research.
The government will develop additional infrastructure in five IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) established after 2014. Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the UGC, told The Sunday Guardian that the Union Budget 2025-26 presents a progressive vision for higher education, emphasizing skill development, innovation, and inclusivity.
The budget for higher education has increased by 7.74% to Rs 50,077.95 crore, aiming to enhance education quality, research, and accessibility. The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme will provide digital learning resources in Indian languages, while funding for the Indian Knowledge System has risen to Rs 50 crore.
Central universities received an allocation of Rs 16,146.11 crore, with Rs 1,815 crore for Centrally Sponsored Schemes like PM-USHA and RUSA. Student financial aid has seen a 68% increase to Rs 2,160 crore, reinforcing the government’s commitment to accessible education.