Budget 2026: Education experts urge government to improve quality, boost infra; call to shift focus on skills
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, education experts have urged the government to shift focus from expanding enrolment to improving quality, infrastructure and future-ready skills. The experts added that it is crucial to harness India’s young population and fast-growing higher education sector.India has the world’s second-largest education system, with nearly 40 per cent of its population below the age of 25. In the previous Union Budget, the education sector received an allocation of Rs 1.28 lakh crore, a 6.22 per cent increase over the year before, with Rs 50,077.95 crore earmarked for higher education.Data from the Economic Survey 2024-25 show steady expansion in the sector. The number of higher education institutions rose by 13.8 per cent over the past eight years, while the Gross Enrolment Ratio increased from 23.7 per cent to 28.4 per cent during the same period, as reported by PTI. Dr PR Sodani, president of the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) University, said that the higher public investment in education and healthcare is critical for building strong human capital. He said spending should prioritise skill development, digital transformation and strengthening institutional capacity. According to Sodani, Budget 2026 could be a turning point if it focuses on upgrading infrastructure, promoting digital and multilingual education, and preparing students for a knowledge-driven economy.Pankaj Priya, deputy director and dean (academics) at BIMTECH, said that while access to higher education has expanded, physical infrastructure has not kept pace with rising enrolments. He pointed to gaps in laboratories, hostels and student facilities, adding that the upcoming Budget should place greater emphasis on capacity-building, research and employability.“The next phase of reform must pivot towards quality, deep research capacity and strong employability outcomes, not just expanding access,” Priya said.He also stressed the need to align academic curricula with emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence and machine learning, in line with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020.
