Social Infrastructure

Education

Education has always been a key priority for the Government of India, with a long-term vision of transforming the country into a global education hub. The Union Budget 2025–26 introduced several landmark initiatives aimed at expanding access, enhancing infrastructure, and strengthening quality. The focus has been on creating more opportunities for the youth through expansion of medical education, growth of premier institutes such as IITs, promotion of Bharatiya languages, and development of skill-oriented institutions. These reforms are part of the broader framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions universal access, equity, and excellence.

Announcements for a Smarter, Inclusive India

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

• The government has launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme to provide Indian language books in digital form for both school and higher education. This initiative ensures that students can learn in their mother tongues and develop a deeper understanding of subjects.

National Centres of Excellence for Skilling

• Building on the July 2024 Budget, five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling will be established in collaboration with global partners. These centres will focus on designing modern curricula, training teachers, providing skill certification, and conducting regular performance reviews to ensure quality.

Expansion of IITs

• Additional infrastructure will be created in five IITs established after 2014, which will accommodate 6,500 more students. Hostel and allied facilities at IIT Patna will also be expanded. Over the last decade, the number of students across the 23 IITs has doubled from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh, strengthening India’s reputation in technical education.

Centre of Excellence in AI for Education

• A Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education will be set up with an outlay of ₹500 crore. This centre will integrate AI tools into pedagogy, personalised learning, research, and teacher training, making Indian education future-ready.

Expansion of Medical Education

• The government has increased undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats by nearly 1.1 lakh in the past ten years, representing a 130% rise. In the upcoming year alone, 10,000 additional seats will be added. The larger goal is to introduce 75,000 new medical seats in the next five years, ensuring a steady pipeline of medical professionals.

Structure of India’s Education System

• India’s education system is one of the largest in the world. According to UDISE+ 2023–24, it serves 24.8 crore students across 14.72 lakh schools and employs nearly 98 lakh teachers. Government schools form the backbone of the system, accounting for 69% of total schools, enrolling 50% of students, and employing 51% of teachers. Private schools, by contrast, make up 22.5% of institutions, catering to 32.6% of students and employing 38% of teachers. This dual system reflects the growing role of private players alongside the public sector.

Enrolment Trends

The NEP 2020 sets a target of achieving a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2030. Currently, India is close to universal enrolment at the primary level with GER at 93%. At the secondary level, GER stands at 77.4%, while at the higher secondary stage it is 56.2%.

• In higher education, the country has witnessed a remarkable expansion. The total number of students enrolled rose from 3.42 crore in 2014–15 to 4.33 crore in 2021–22, marking a 26.5% increase. The GER for the 18–23 age group also improved from 23.7% in 2014–15 to 28.4% in 2021–22.

Women’s Participation

• Women’s enrolment in higher education has grown substantially, from 1.57 crore in 2014–15 to 2.07 crore in 2021–22, representing a 32% increase. Women now dominate enrolments in disciplines such as medical sciences, social sciences, and the arts, reflecting significant progress in gender inclusion.

Decline in Dropout Rates

• Dropout rates have steadily declined across levels of schooling. At the primary level, the dropout rate is 1.9%, at the upper primary level it stands at 5.2%, and at the secondary level it is 14.1%. According to the AISHE report, the dropout rate at the secondary stage has come down significantly from 21% in 2013–14 to 13% in 2021–22.

Transformation of Higher Education

Expansion of Universities and HEIs

• The number of universities has expanded from 723 in 2014 to 1,213 in 2024, reflecting a 59.6% rise. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have also grown by 13.8%, increasing from 51,534 in 2014–15 to 58,643 in 2022–23.

Growth in Medical Education and Workforce

• Medical colleges increased from 499 in FY19 to 780 in FY25. MBBS seats rose from 70,012 in FY19 to 1,18,137 in FY25, while postgraduate seats grew from 39,583 to 73,157 in the same period. Aspirants for MBBS increased from 16 lakh in 2019 to 24 lakh in 2024. As of July 2024, India had 13.86 lakh registered doctors, with a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1263. With the annual addition of 50,000 doctors, India is expected to achieve the WHO norm of 1:1000 by 2030.

Growth of IITs and IIMs

• The number of IITs increased from 16 in 2014 to 23 in 2023, while IIMs expanded from 13 to 20 in the same period. This expansion has strengthened India’s position in global technical and management education.

Progress in School Infrastructure

• Between 2019–20 and 2023–24, school facilities have improved significantly. Electricity access in schools rose from 83.4% to 91.8%. Access to computers increased from 38.5% to 57.2%, while internet facilities expanded from 22.3% to 53.9%. Girls’ toilets are now available in over 97% of schools, and access to libraries improved from 84.1% to 89%. These improvements highlight the government’s commitment to creating inclusive and technology-enabled classrooms.

PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India) Introduction The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the PM SHRI Schools scheme as a centrally sponsored programme. The scheme aims to strengthen over 14,500 existing schools across India by developing them into PM SHRI Schools, which will serve as exemplar institutions showcasing all components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These schools will act as hubs of quality education, mentorship, and holistic development, equipping students with key 21st-century skills. The scheme will be implemented between 2022–23 and 2026–27 with a total outlay of ₹27,360 crore, including a central share of ₹18,128 crore. Vision and Objectives Provide high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education in line with NEP 2020. Nurture holistic and well-rounded individuals through experiential and competency-based learning. Transform schools into Green Schools, integrating sustainability and environmental awareness. Offer mentorship to nearby schools, ensuring leadership and knowledge-sharing. Key Features of PM SHRI Schools 1. Pedagogy and Learning Approach Experiential, inquiry-driven, and discussion-based learning. Focus on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real-life contexts. Holistic and enjoyable learning through play/toy-based methods in foundational years. 2. Environmental Sustainability – Green Schools Solar panels, LED lights, and nutrition gardens with natural farming. Waste management, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and plastic-free campuses. Awareness drives, hackathons, and projects on climate change and sustainable lifestyles. 3. Inclusivity and Equity Provision of safe infrastructure for girls and Children with Special Needs (CWSN). Flexibility in subject choices and promotion of mother tongue/local languages as the medium of instruction. Use of ICT tools to bridge language and accessibility barriers. 4. Infrastructure and Digital Facilities 100% coverage under ICT, smart classrooms, and digital libraries. Comprehensive facilities including science labs, vocational labs, libraries, and sports infrastructure. Strengthening of physical infrastructure through convergence with local bodies and community participation. 5. Vocational and Skill Development Linkage with Sector Skill Councils and local industry to enhance employability. Internships with local artisans and entrepreneurs. Mapping of skills with nearby industries and development of relevant curriculum. 6. Beneficiary-Oriented Entitlements 100% coverage of Science and Math kits under RTE provisions. Annual composite school grants, library grants, and sports grants. Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), including Balvatika and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). Implementation Strategy Administrative Framework: Implemented through Samagra Shiksha, Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS). Autonomous bodies to be involved in specific projects as required. Monitoring: Regular evaluation of NEP implementation progress. Use of School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Selection Methodology Challenge Mode: Schools must apply online and compete for selection. The portal will open four times a year for the first two years. Eligibility: Government and local body-run elementary, secondary, and senior secondary schools with UDISE+ codes. Three-Stage Process: Stage 1: States/UTs sign MoU committing to full NEP implementation. Stage 2: Pool of eligible schools identified using UDISE+ data. Stage 3: Challenge method — schools meeting set criteria are inspected and certified by States/KVS/NVS. Limit: Maximum of two schools per block/urban local body (one elementary and one secondary). Geo-Tagging: BISAG-N to conduct geo-tagging for transparency and monitoring. Quality Assurance of PM SHRI Schools Showcase of NEP 2020 principles. Student registry for tracking enrolment and learning progress. Competency-based assessment to improve learning outcomes. Every middle-grade child oriented towards 21st-century skills. Every secondary-grade student to graduate with at least one skill. Integration of sports, arts, ICT, and entrepreneurship for all children. Linkage with Higher Education Institutions for mentoring. Strong focus on character-building, fundamental duties, and citizenship values. Students to be rooted in India’s cultural heritage and civilisational ethos while embodying the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.