"In the vast landscape of Indian education, let's cultivate

not just scholars, but also thinkers, dreamers, and change-

makers."

Introduction
A very hearty Gd morning to my esteemed panelists, judges and honored guests present
here. I, Sara Mahajan along with my team is pleased to be here today to reflect upon the
Viksitkal Financial budget of our country as in regard with the education sector.

speech
The education sector is on the path of a massive transformation. From upskilling, and
reskilling to adapting to digital education– the sector is on the verge of changing for good.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Interim Budget highlighted the
following initiatives In the education sector
 female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28 per cent, and that in STEM
courses stands at 43 per cent which is one of the highest in the world.

 The minister said the government plans to set up more medical colleges using the
existing hospital infrastructure.

 Highlighting the achievement of her government, the minister said PM SHRI schools
are delivering quality teaching and nurturing holistic and well-rounded individuals.

 Skill India has trained 1.8 crore youths, upskilled and re-skilled 54 lakh youths and
established 3,000 new ITIs. A large number of HEIs, namely 7 IITs, 16 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 16
AIIMS, and 390 universities have been set up.

 She also added that The National Education Policy 2020 is ushering in
transformational reforms which focuses universalizing pre-primary education,
ensuring foundational literacy/numeracy, and implementing a 5+3+3+4 curriculum
structure.
Impact of nep

1. Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education:

2. Early Childhood Education:
3. Flexible Academic Structure:
 4. Assessment Reforms (rather than a reliance on traditional
exams.)
5. Technological Integration ( fostering the use of digital tools and platforms)
6. Teacher Training and Professional Development
7. Vocational Education

Education Budget 2024 Live: Highlights from 2024-25 interim budget

1. Education Ministry’s overall budget allocation this year increased
by 6.8 per cent from Rs 1,20,627.87 crore as opposed to Rs
1,12,899.47 crore in 2023-24..
2. Central universities grants saw an increase of over Rs 4,000 crore
with Rs 15,928 crore allocated for FY 2024-25.
3. For Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan allocation increased marginally by Rs
46.5 crore, from Rs 37,453.47 crore to Rs 37,500 crore in 2024-25.
4. The total allocation for the School Education Department is
₹73,008.10 crore
5. The total allocation for the Higher Education Department is
₹47,619.77 crore. In the previous Budget, it was ₹44,094.62 crore.
Schemes launched under budget 2024

 The UP government announced a new scheme — Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas

Abhiyan — in the Budget for which a provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been made for
2024-25.The scheme aims to connect educated and trained youth toward becoming
MSME entrepreneurs. It is being launched for employment generation so that new
entrepreneurs can easily get interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh,”
 The state government has proposed ₹4000 crore for distributing
tablets/smartphones under Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana. Over 25
lakh devices have already been distributed, and the scheme is ongoing.

 Another scheme “Sant Ravidas Shiksha Protsahan Yojana”, Under this scheme,
1,86,270 students were benefited till November 2023, and an amount of
approximately ₹58.46 crore was spent to provide free quality education to the
children of construction workers.

2. Analysis (impact of budget)

3. The Budget 2024 initiatives by the Indian government in education are

commendable on two counts

4. New Education Policy (NEP) 2020: One of the most significant

developments during this period was the introduction of the New
 Education Policy in 2020. This policy aimed to overhaul the education
system, focusing on holistic development, flexibility, and
multidisciplinary education. It proposed changes in curriculum
structure, assessment methods, teacher training, and the
establishment of new educational institutions such as the National
Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and National Testing Agency
(NTA).

5. Second, with a significant allocation of Rs. 1.12 lakh crore, including Rs. 44,095 crore
for Higher Education, there's a clear focus on developing a skilled workforce. The
notable 28% increase in female enrollment in higher education over the past decade
is a testament to our strides towards inclusivity. Furthermore, the impressive
accomplishments of the Skill India Mission, which has trained 1.4 crore youth and
upskilled 54 lakh individuals, play a crucial role in bridging skill gaps and fostering
growth. Additionally, the enrollment of 43% of females in STEM courses reflects our
progress in promoting gender inclusivity. These initiatives promise a brighter future
for India's youth and signify a positive trajectory for our nation's development.

Overall, this budget lays a promising foundation for today’s youth with importance given to
education and skilling. The impact of the BJP-led government on the Indian education
system during this period involves a mix of policy changes, digital transformation, skill
development efforts, and cultural emphasis, along with ongoing challenges and areas
for improvement. Overall the education budget was clearly aligned with the BJP’s
vision of “Padhega India, Tabhi toh Aage Badhega India.

Jai Hind
Thank You.