Parliament Question: Increase in Budgetary Allocation for Education Sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.237 ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026 INCREASE IN BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION SECTOR *237. Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has allocated a sum of Rs. 1,39,289.48 crore for the Ministry of Education in Budget 2026-27 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the rationale for establishing the high- powered 'Education to Employment and Enterprise' standing Committee is to bridge the skill gap by aligning academic curricula with the emerging demands of the services sector and evaluating the impact of Artificial Intelligence on future jobs and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to create five university Townships near major industrial and logistics corridors in the country particularly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies

(IICT) to unlock career opportunities in the "Orange Economy"; and

(e) the impact of one girls' hostel in every district through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) on female students to boost their enrollment in Higher Education fields? ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***** 1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 237 FOR REPLY ON 09.03.2026 ASKED BY SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE AND SMT. BHARTI PARDHI, HON’BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING INCREASE IN BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION SECTOR

(a) to (e): In the Union Budget 2026-27, the total budget allocation for the Ministry of Education has reached ₹139289.48 crore, marking 8.27 % increase over BE 2025-26. The Budget Allocation for the Department of School Education & Literacy for 2026-27 is ₹ 83562 Cr which is an overall increase of ₹ 4990 Cr (6.35%) as compared to FY 2025-26. The overall Budget Allocation for Department of Higher Education for 2026-27 is Rs. 55727.22 Cr which is an overall increase of Rs. 5649.27 Cr (11.28%) with respect to FY 2025-26.

To make India a global leader in services, with a 10% global share by 2047 by prioritising areas to optimise the potential for growth, employment and exports, assessing the impact of emerging technologies, including AI, on jobs and skill requirements and propose measures thereof, Union Budget 2026-27 has announced setting up of a High-Powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ Standing Committee to recommend measures that focus on the Services Sector as a core driver of Viksit Bharat.

Union Budget 2026-27 has announced setting up of 5 University Townships in the vicinity of major industrial and logistic corridors by supporting States, through challenge route. These planned academic zones will host multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes.

The detailed structure of the scheme, including its implementation model, key components, priority sectors, and institutional arrangements, will be finalised through a consultative process.

Broadly, the proposed university townships are envisaged to provide world-class academic and research infrastructure including innovation and incubation facilities, industry partnerships and sustainable urban amenities.

Selecting of locations will be dependent on factors such as availability of suitable land, connectivity, regional educational needs, potential for industry linkage, balanced regional development and environmental sustainability.

With India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector a growing industry, with projected requirement of 2 million professionals by 2030 in the Budget 2026-27 announcement has been made to support the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai in setting up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges.

Budget announcement of establishment of 1 girls’ hostel in every district through VGF/capital aims to support women’s participation in STEM as in higher education STEM Institutions prolonged hours of study and laboratory work pose some challenges for girl students.

*** 23