KEY POLICY CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE UNION BUDGET 2019

Posted by Evelyn Williams on August 2nd, 2019

The citizens of India did put up a massive expectation from the first budget of Modi Government 2.0. India being one of the largest educational systems worldwide the concentration on the educational allotment in the budget was very prominent. Experts were of the opinion that a bigger sum of money invested in this sector would help in improving the standard and quality of education in the country. On the 5th of July 2019, India witnessed the plan of the government to look after the various departments and issues. Budget 2018-2019 saw an amount of 83625.86 crore rupees to be allocated to the educational sector. This year the amount has been elevated to an investment of 94854 crore rupees. The amount has been optimally divided for the development of the school sector and the higher education department. The school sector got a sum of 56536.63 crores and the higher education sector the rest amount of 38317.01. Numerous national educational policies have been announced for the upliftment of education at the school level. These might be stated as the Samagra Siksha Abhiyan including Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (focussing on the elementary education) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (targeting on the secondary division). These policies have got an assignment of the stupendous amount of 36447.4 crores. The provision of mid-day meals in the government-run schools has to its budget an amount of 11000 crores.

The most important announcements in the budget regarding the education sector can be listed as follows.

• The New Education Policy – The main aim of the policy is to incorporate the changing scenario of the educational structure and to incorporate the necessities required to keep Indian educational standards at par with the world education system at all levels right from school to higher educational fields. It focuses on early childcare, innovate the prevailing exam system and improvise on the methods of training the teachers.

• Establishment of National Research Foundation – An amount of 608.87 crores has been assigned for the purpose of research and development activities. This is purposed to have the proper functioning of the research activities and to facilitate the findings of the research work to various corners.

• Study in India Program – The Ministry of Human Resources Development has taken up the initiative to attract students from all over the world to study in India. 150 crore rupees allocation has been made in the program to carry out the task of branding India.

• The on setting of Higher Education Commission of India - The Commission is supposed to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC). The main purpose of setting up the new Commission is to advertise autonomy and intricately look into the academic performance of the youth.

• Formation of National Sports Education Board – Along with educational enlightenment involvement of children in various sports is equally necessary to cater to the all-round physical and mental development of the future generation. The work of the Board would be to look into the aspect of injecting the various facilities of sports among children.