<p>New Delhi: A high-powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ standing committee to recommend measures to boost the services sector, the establishment of five university townships, a girls’ hostel in every district for girl students pursuing STEM, and an NID in the East are some of the key offerings in this year’s Budget for the education sector. </p><p>Allocation for the Education Ministry this year saw an increase of 8.27%. A significant announcement in this year's Budget is the reduction of remittance tax for students seeking to study abroad from 5% to 2%. </p><p>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the high-powered committee will help India chase a 10% global share in the services sector by 2047. “... (the) Committee (will) recommend measures that focus on the Services Sector … this will make us a global leader in services, with a 10% global share by 2047. The Committee will prioritise areas to optimise the potential for growth, employment and exports. They will also assess the impact of emerging technologies, including AI, on jobs and skill requirements and propose measures,” Sitharaman said during her Budget speech.</p>.Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman extends tax exemption on capital goods used to make lithium-ion cells for battery storage.<p>Sitharaman also said that the government will support States in creating five University Townships near major industrial and logistic corridors. “These planned academic zones will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes,” she said. </p><p>The education ministry’s allocation this year increased from Rs 1,28,650 crore last year to Rs 1,39,289 crore this year – a hike of 8.27%. Within this, the allocation for the department of higher education is Rs. 55727.22 crore, an increase of Rs 5649.27 crore (or 11.28%) from last year. </p><p>The allocation for the department of school education and literacy for FY 2026-27 is Rs 83562 crore, which is the highest ever for the department. This marks an increase of Rs 4990 crore (or 6.35%) in the allocation from last fiscal. When compared to the Revised Estimates of FY 2025-26, there has been an increase of Rs 12995 crore (or 18.42%).</p><p>Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the sector is the sixth most prioritised sector in this Budget. “This year, India’s girls have achieved the best proficiency in STEM education globally. Indian girls’ achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education are superior to those of other countries. To further accelerate and promote this, the government, in collaboration with state governments, will establish a state-of-the-art girls' hostel in every district of the country,” Pradhan said. He also said that the reduction of the remittance tax from 5% to 2% will make it easier for students to pursue advanced research, post-doctoral studies, and general education abroad. </p><p>In addition to that, this fiscal, to further promote the study of astrophysics and astronomy, telescope infrastructure facilities will be upgraded and new setups will be established in four locations.</p>
<p>New Delhi: A high-powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ standing committee to recommend measures to boost the services sector, the establishment of five university townships, a girls’ hostel in every district for girl students pursuing STEM, and an NID in the East are some of the key offerings in this year’s Budget for the education sector. </p><p>Allocation for the Education Ministry this year saw an increase of 8.27%. A significant announcement in this year's Budget is the reduction of remittance tax for students seeking to study abroad from 5% to 2%. </p><p>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the high-powered committee will help India chase a 10% global share in the services sector by 2047. “... (the) Committee (will) recommend measures that focus on the Services Sector … this will make us a global leader in services, with a 10% global share by 2047. The Committee will prioritise areas to optimise the potential for growth, employment and exports. They will also assess the impact of emerging technologies, including AI, on jobs and skill requirements and propose measures,” Sitharaman said during her Budget speech.</p>.Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman extends tax exemption on capital goods used to make lithium-ion cells for battery storage.<p>Sitharaman also said that the government will support States in creating five University Townships near major industrial and logistic corridors. “These planned academic zones will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes,” she said. </p><p>The education ministry’s allocation this year increased from Rs 1,28,650 crore last year to Rs 1,39,289 crore this year – a hike of 8.27%. Within this, the allocation for the department of higher education is Rs. 55727.22 crore, an increase of Rs 5649.27 crore (or 11.28%) from last year. </p><p>The allocation for the department of school education and literacy for FY 2026-27 is Rs 83562 crore, which is the highest ever for the department. This marks an increase of Rs 4990 crore (or 6.35%) in the allocation from last fiscal. When compared to the Revised Estimates of FY 2025-26, there has been an increase of Rs 12995 crore (or 18.42%).</p><p>Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the sector is the sixth most prioritised sector in this Budget. “This year, India’s girls have achieved the best proficiency in STEM education globally. Indian girls’ achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education are superior to those of other countries. To further accelerate and promote this, the government, in collaboration with state governments, will establish a state-of-the-art girls' hostel in every district of the country,” Pradhan said. He also said that the reduction of the remittance tax from 5% to 2% will make it easier for students to pursue advanced research, post-doctoral studies, and general education abroad. </p><p>In addition to that, this fiscal, to further promote the study of astrophysics and astronomy, telescope infrastructure facilities will be upgraded and new setups will be established in four locations.</p>