**Policy Summary: Increased Budgetary Allocation for Education (Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1173)**
On July 28, 2025, the Ministry of Education addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1173 regarding increased budgetary allocations for education.
The total allocation for the Ministry of Education in Budget Estimate (BE) 2025-26 is Rs. 1,28,650.05 Crore, representing a 6.21% increase compared to BE 2024-25.
Department-wise allocations are as follows:
* Department of School Education and Literacy: Rs. 78,572.10 Crore (7.41% increase)
* Department of Higher Education: Rs. 50,077.95 Crore (5.16% increase)
The increased allocations align with the goals and objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Specific flagship schemes under the Department of School Education and Literacy, such as PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) and Samagra Shiksha, have seen budget increases of 23.96% and 10% respectively. For the Department of Higher Education, the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), PM Research Fellowship (PMRF), and National Mission in Education through ICT have received increased allocations of 96.33%, 71.43%, and 36.46% respectively.
Expenditure on Education as a percentage of GDP for the years 2019-20 (Actual), 2020-21 (Revised Estimate), and 2021-22 (Budget Estimate) was 4.04%, 4.36%, and 4.12% respectively. The public expenditure on education in India as a percentage of GDP in 2022 is higher than most other SAARC countries.
To ensure efficient fund utilization and reach at the ground level, especially in rural and remote areas, the Government of India has implemented mechanisms under the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). These include the Central Nodal Agency (CNA) and Treasury Single Account (TSA) for Central Sector Schemes, and the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) and SNASPARSH for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, facilitating timely fund availability for Implementing Agencies (IAs) in States.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, provided the response.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The ministry responsible for education in the Government of India.
National Education Policy 2020: A comprehensive framework for education reform in India.
PM Schools for Rising India PM SHRI: A flagship scheme under Do School Education Literacy.
Samagra Shiksha: A flagship scheme under Do School Education Literacy.
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme NATS: A scheme under Do Higher Education to provide apprenticeship training.
PM Research Fellowship PMRF: A scheme under Do Higher Education to promote research.
Public Financial Management System PFMS: A system for managing public finances.
Central Sector Schemes: Schemes funded and implemented by the central government.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1173
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Additional Budgetary Allocation for Education
1173. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) The details of increased percentage of budgetary allocations for education in the current
financial year;
(b) The rational of such allocation and the manner by which it aligns with the
recommendations of NEP 2020;
(c) The total expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP during the last three years,
year-wise;
(d) The comparison of total expenditure on education with other developing countries; and
(e) The mechanism put in place to ensure that allocated fund for education reaches the
ground level, especially rural and remote areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) : The total allocation of fund for the Ministry of Education in BE 2025-26 is Rs. 1,28,650.05
Crore, which is 6.21% higher than that in BE 2024-25. The Department -wise details of
allocation of the Ministry are as under:
(Amount in Cr.)
Increase in allocation in
B.E. 2024-
Name of Department B.E. 2025-26 BE 2025-26 over BE
25
2024-25
D/o School 73498.10 78572.10 7.41%
Education &
Literacy
D/o Higher 47619.77 50077.95 5.16%
Education
Total Budget of M/o 121117.87 128650.05 6.22%
Education(b): Allocation for various schemes and activities in BE-2025-26 has been aligned with the
goals and objectives of National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). As regards D/o School
Education & Literacy, for flagship schemes viz PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) and
Samagra Shiksha, the allocation has been increased by 23.96% and 10% respectively during
the current financial year over the last financial year.
As regards D/o Higher Education, the allocation for National Apprenticeship Training
Scheme (NATS), PM- Research Fellowship (PMRF) and National Mission in Education
through ICT has been increased by 96.33%, 71.43% and 36.46% respectively during the
current financial year over the last financial year.
(c): As per the “Analysis of Budgeted Expenditure on Education 2019-20 to 2021-22”, the
expenditure on Education in India in 2019-20 (Actual), 2020-21(RE) and 2021-22(BE), was
4.04%, 4.36% and 4.12% of GDP respectively.
(d): The Public Expenditure on education in India in percentage term of GDP in 2022 is
higher than most of the other SAARC Countries.
(e): In order to ensure that funds allocated under various schemes are utilised efficiently
and reach the ground level, the Government of India has devised new modules namely Central
Nodal Agency (CNA) and Treasury Single Account (TSA) for Central Sector Schemes and
Single Nodal Agency (SNA) and SNA-SPARSH for Centrally Sponsored Schemes under
Public Financial Management System (PFMS) thereby making fund available for utilization
by Implementing Agencies (IAs) in States just-in time.
****