Education Sector In Budget 2020: From New Policy To Allocation Of Rs 99,300 Crore Funds

Presenting the Union Budget 2020 on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Rs 99,300 crore outlay for the education sector and Rs 3,000 crore for skill development. The Finance Minister added that teachers, nurses, paramedics and caregivers will be helped to acquire skills through a special course. The major announcement in the education sector also includes degree level full-fledged online education programme to be offered by top 100 institutes for deprived students.

Sitharaman also said that the new education policy will be announced soon. “Dialogues have been held with state education ministries, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders on the education policy. Over 2 lakh suggestions were also received. The new education policy will be announced soon,” Sitharaman said during her speech.

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Steps will be be taken to attract external commercial borrowing and FDI in the education sector, the finance minister said. She further said the government plans to start a programme for urban local bodies to provide opportunities for internship to young engineers.

Emphasising that India should also be a preferred destination for higher education, she said under a ‘Study in India’ programme an IND-SAT exam is proposed in Asian and African countries for bench-marking foreign candidates who receive scholarships for studying in Indian higher education centres.

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The government of India also plans to new scholarship programme for foreign students and the Sitharaman said that the government will work to promote ‘Study in India’.

The other announcements in the education sector include, opening of National Police University, National Forensics University, new courses to be initiated in 150 universities by 2026, a medical college to be attached to each district hospitals on PPP mode, large hospitals to be encouraged for PG courses.