Union Budget 2025 | Bold vision but execution is key

The Union Budget 2025 has placed a heavy emphasis on transforming India’s education sector aimed at creating a more inclusive, technologically advanced, and future-ready system. Key announcements like the establishment of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), expanded broadband connectivity for government schools, increased funding for multilingual digital resources, AI in education, and expanded medical education seats reflect the government’s vision for modernising India’s educational infrastructure. However, with ambitious proposals, there remains the crucial question if these initiatives will lead to tangible improvements in the quality and accessibility of education.

The ATLs, to be set up across government schools over the next five years, aim to foster innovation, critical thinking, and a scientific temper by introducing students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. The announcement is in line with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), which has already set up around 10,000 labs in the last few years. However, despite the growing number of labs, maintenance, teacher training, resource allocation, and insufficient funding remain challenges. For these new labs to succeed, there must be substantial investment in professional development programmes for teachers and continuous monitoring of the labs’ impact.

In a bid to address the digital divide in education, the budget has allocated resources for expanding broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools and Primary Health Centres. This initiative aims to increase digital penetration and provide equitable access to online learning resources, enabling schools to offer virtual classrooms, digital assessments, and interactive learning platforms. As per the Economic Survey 2024-25, only about 53% of schools had internet access, with a significant urban-rural divide in terms of connectivity. While broadband connectivity is essential, the government cannot stop at merely installing the infrastructure.

The budget has introduced the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, aimed to provide digital-format books in regional languages. Given that India is home to over 122 languages, this initiative seeks to ensure that students who study in their native languages can access educational materials in multiple Indian languages. This could be a game-changer for students in rural areas, who often struggle with English-based education. However, digital-only formats can be a double-edged sword. According to a 2019 survey by the National Statistical Office, less than 20% of rural households had access to digital devices, highlighting the accessibility issue. Simply providing digital content may not be effective if students from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot afford or access the required devices. The success of this scheme will depend on the quality of translations, as poorly translated content could lead to misunderstandings and academic confusion.

Focus on skilling

The budget also includes a proposal to set up five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, in collaboration with global institutions. These centres will offer specialised training in advanced manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, and other emerging fields to equip youth with industry-ready skills. The National Skill Development Mission has reported that as of 2023, only about 3% of India’s workforce has received formal skills training, which is well below the global average. These new centres could address this issue by providing world-class training programmes. However, it is to be noted that previous skill development initiatives have largely failed to deliver employability outcomes due to gaps in industry-relevant curriculum, infrastructure, and a lack of robust placement support.

Another key proposal is the expansion of IIT infrastructure, with an additional 6,500 seats across five IITs. However, the IITs are already grappling with issues like faculty shortage, and limited research funding. Similarly, in medical education, the government has proposed 10,000 new seats this year, with a goal of 75,000 seats over the next five years. This is essential to address India’s acute doctor shortage, particularly in rural areas. However, for the expansion to be effective, there needs to be a simultaneous increase in faculty recruitment and infrastructure development.

In a forward-thinking announcement, the budget has allocated Rs 500 crore to establish a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education. AI has the potential to revolutionise education by offering personalised learning, automated assessments, and adaptive learning technologies. However, the key issue with AI in Indian education is ensuring its equitable distribution.

The Union Budget presents a bold vision for the education sector, with significant investments in STEM learning, digital infrastructure, and skilling initiatives. However, the success of these initiatives will depend largely on effective implementation, sustained funding, and the removal of systemic barriers. Without these, the budget’s grand promises risk being unfulfilled, as past reforms often fell short due to bureaucratic delays and inconsistent execution. For the government’s vision to truly transform education, it will need to ensure that every initiative reaches the ground level.

(The writer is an associate professor at the Department of Economics, Christ University)

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Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, as Finance Minister, presented her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', the Modi govt gave income tax relief for those making up to Rs 12 lakh per year in salaried income. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.