Sat Feb 01 21:06:31 IST 2025: ## Union Budget 2025: Major Boost for Education and Skill Development

**New Delhi, February 1, 2025** – The Union Budget 2025 unveiled significant investments in education and skill development, focusing on technological advancement and strengthening India’s indigenous knowledge systems. A key highlight is the allocation of ₹500 crore for an AI Centre of Excellence in Education, alongside similar centers focused on agriculture, health, and sustainable cities.

The budget also promises a substantial expansion of higher education opportunities. Five new IITs will accommodate an additional 6,500 students, while IIT Patna will receive infrastructure upgrades. The total number of students in IITs has more than doubled in the last decade, rising from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh. Furthermore, 10,000 additional medical college seats will be added this year, part of a larger plan to increase capacity by 75,000 over the next 10 years.

A significant investment in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) includes ₹50 crore allocated to support the creation of 22,000 textbooks in 22 Indian languages for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. A national digital repository for IKS is also proposed. The PM Research Fellowship scheme will provide 10,000 scholarships over five years for technological research.

A major initiative will see the establishment of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools to foster innovation and scientific temper among students. This complements the plan to provide broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools and rural primary health centers.

The budget also emphasizes skill development, outlining plans for five National Centres of Excellence, leveraging global expertise and partnerships to equip youth for “Make for India, Make for the World” manufacturing initiatives. These partnerships will encompass curriculum design, trainer training, skills certification, and regular evaluations. Overall, higher education funding saw a 7.7% increase compared to the previous year. The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme will provide digital Indian language books for schools and higher education.

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