Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Education Budget 2025 today, detailing an ambitious strategy to bolster India’s educational infrastructure. The Budget highlights the allocation of Rs 500 crore for establishing three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the expansion of both Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and medical colleges.Additionally, the Budget focuses on enhancing the quality and accessibility of education, while preparing students for a rapidly evolving technological and healthcare landscape.
Rs 500 Crore for AI Centres of Excellence
A major initiative under the Education Budget 2025 is the creation of three Centres of Excellence in AI, backed by a Rs 500 crore investment. These Centres will collaborate with leading academic institutions and provide cutting-edge research, skill-building, and upskilling programmes in AI and related fields. The goal is to bridge the skill gap in AI, which has been identified as a key driver for global growth in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
The Centres will be strategically positioned across India to ensure wide regional accessibility, nurturing highly skilled graduates capable of contributing to the national AI ecosystem and competing globally. These Centres will also offer industry-aligned curricula to ensure that students are job-ready by the time they graduate.
Expansion of IITs and Medical Colleges
The Education Budget 2025 places strong emphasis on expanding access to world-class technical and medical education. As part of the government’s drive to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals, the Budget outlines several key initiatives:
• IIT Expansion: Five IITs will undergo infrastructure upgrades, including the addition of new facilities, and 5,000 additional seats will be created to accommodate the increasing demand for engineering education. Notably, IIT Patna will see improvements in hostel facilities and infrastructure capacity to better support the growing student population.
• Medical College Expansion: The Budget includes an immediate plan to add 5,000 new medical seats this year, with an additional 75,000 undergraduate medical seats set to be added over the next five years. Over the past decade, nearly 1.1 lakh new undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats have been added, resulting in a 130% increase in the medical education capacity.
Furthermore, to meet the nation’s healthcare needs, the government plans to establish cancer day care centres in all district hospitals, improving access to cancer treatment across the country.
Significant Investment in Skill Development
The Education Budget 2025 also places significant focus on skilling initiatives, with the government announcing the establishment of five National Centres for Excellence in Skilling. These centres will bring in global expertise, aiming to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of contributing to the global economy. The centres will help foster innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring that students are equipped with practical skills relevant to emerging industries.
Additionally, 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up over the next five years to inspire scientific temper and encourage creativity among young minds. These labs will provide students with hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Digital and Language Initiatives
To improve access to learning materials in Indian languages, the government will launch the Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak scheme, which will provide digital versions of books in Indian languages for schools and higher education. This initiative aligns with the government’s goal of promoting multilingual education and increasing accessibility for students across the country.
Additionally, the Budget introduced broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools and primary healthcare centres, aiming to bridge the digital divide and enhance access to education and healthcare services in remote areas.
Medical and Research Fellowships
The government has also announced plans to add 10,000 additional medical seats next year, bringing the total number of new medical seats to 75,000 over the next five years. This move is designed to address the country’s healthcare worker shortage and ensure a more sustainable medical workforce.
Additionally, the government will provide 10,000 PM Research Fellowships for students at IITs and IISc Bangalore, with enhanced financial support. This initiative aims to attract top talent to research fields in science and technology and foster a strong research ecosystem.
