Education Budget 2022: Digital University, e-content in regional languages, check key highlights

From the development of digital universities to providing e-content in regional languages, check the key announcement made by Finance Minister in Budget 2022 for Education Sector here 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam today presented the fourth Union Budget 2022; i.e. February 1. The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely affected the education sector which in turn highlighted the need for an increase in budget allocation to education as schools, universities and other educational institutions have once again returned to online classes to stay afloat. Sitharam began her Budget stating " we strive to provide a necessary ecosystem for the middle class. This Budget hopes to lay the foundation for Amrit Kal from India at 75 to India at 100."

This year Education Ministry was allocated Rs 1,04,259.71 crore. The Education Ministries Budget is divided into two departments; i.e. Department of School Education and Literacy and the Department of Higher Education. This year, Education Ministry Budget witnessed the hike by 11 per cent as compared to 2021-22. The Higher Education department Budget was increased from Rs 38,325.15 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 40,810.34 in 2022-23. The allocation for Digital India e-learning has gone down from Rs 645.61 crore to Rs 421.01 crore. The allocation for student financial aid has also witnessed almost 20 per cent cut, from Rs 2,400 crore to Rs 2,000 crore.

The grant to central universities, however, witnessed the rise in budget allocation. In 2021-22, the budget allocated to CUs was 7,643.25 crore which has been increased to 9,420.00 crore. There has been a slight change in allocation to the two regulatory bodies of higher education as compared to last year. The Budget allocated to the University Grants Commission (UGC) is Rs 4900.91 crore and Rs 420.00 crore to AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) this year. In the 2021-22 budget,  UGC was allocated 4693.20 crore and AICTE Rs 416 crore.

From the development of digital universities to providing e-content in regional languages, check the key announcement made by Fiance Minister in Budget 2022 for Education Sector here: 

Digital University, Digital Education

Talking about Higher Education, the Minister said, a digital university will be developed to provide access to students to world-class quality education with ISTE Standards. Digital University to be built on a network hub and spoke model, with the collaboration of best public Universities.

In her Budget 2022 speech, she also added that the world-class universities will be given permission to offer courses in financial management, financial technology, science, and technology, free of Indian regulations, Sitharaman further said. “Skilling programs will be reoriented. For skilling, upskilling & reskilling of our youth, the Digital DESH e-portal will be launched soon.

To ensure no student is left behind, quality e-content will be made available to students through various means in regional languages. Teachers will be trained to use better e-teaching outcomes to help students gain more knowledge and move ahead,” Sitharaman said.

Agriculture University

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her speech said that "Syllabi will be revised in agricultural universities to meet the needs of modern-day farming."  She further said that the states will be encouraged to revise syllabi of agricultural universities to meet the needs of natural, zero-budget & organic farming, modern-day agriculture.

Budget 2022: Promise of 60 lakh jobs 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the next target of the government is to create 60 lakh jobs. "PM Gati Shakti will pull forward the economy and will lead to more jobs and opportunities for the youth," she said. "Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat has received an excellent response, with potential to create 60 lakh new jobs and additional production of 30 lakh crore during next Keycap digit five years," she said.

Defence R&D

Defence R&D will be opened up to industry, startups, and academia with 25 per cent of defence R&D budget. Academic Institutes will also be encouraged and supported for Research and Development within the ambit of Defence Budget.

Read More:

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• Union Budget 2022 expectations: Road to revamp education sector and strengthen infrastructure