2023 Budget: What Are Stakeholders Currently Anticipating From The Education Budget?

 The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will today present the Union Budget in Parliament. This will be her fifth budget since she took over as the country’s finance minister. Before the Lok Sabha elections next year, this is the ruling government’s final full-fledged budget.

Sitharaman boosted the overall financial allocation for the education sector from Rs 93,224 crore (Budget estimate) in 2021–2022 to Rs 1.04 lakh crore in the previous year’s budget. To make up for learning losses brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the minister had placed increased emphasis on digital learning methods. The minister had additionally suggested that a “digital university” be established and that electronic content be created in each of the Indian languages. 

However, the central allocation for the PM Poshan scheme (formerly known as the mid-day meal scheme) decreased from Rs 11,500 crore in 2021–2022 to Rs 10,233 crore in 2022–2023 The entire amount allotted for the project could not be used during the current financial year due to extended school closures, as evidenced by the amended allocation for 2021–22, which was likewise Rs 10,233 crore.