While presenting the Union Budget 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Rs. 93,224.31 crore has been allocated for education this year — Rs 6,088 crore less than in 2020 (Rs 99,311 crore). She also highlighted the implementation plan of the National Education Policy, the establishment of a central university in Leh as well as the need to focus on digital infrastructure.

Here are the key highlights:

Education

• More than Rs 35,000 crore has been allotted by the government over 6 years to revamp Post-Matric scholarships to help 4 crore Scheduled Caste students.
• 100 Sainik schools to be set up.
• 750 Eklavya schools to be set up in tribal areas.
• An ‘umbrella’ structure will be created for central higher education institutions in various cities.
• Central University will come up in Ladakh. 
• Over 15,000 schools will be strengthened under NEP 2020.
• Regional national institutes for virology will be set up.
• Mission Poshan 2.0 will be formed by merging the Supplementary Nutrition Programme with Poshan Abhiyan. The SNP is delivered through Anganwadis, or early childhood care and education centres.

Skills

• The Apprenticeship Act will be amended to increase opportunities for students and will be realigned for providing post-education apprenticeship. Rs 3,000 crore has been allotted. The training of graduates and diploma holders in engineering will be trained under the scheme.
• Partnership with UAE and Japan in area of skill development and recognition.
• A new portal has been proposed to collect info on gig-workers, building and construction workers, among others.

Research & development (R&D)

• National Research Foundation (NRF) to get an outlay of Rs 50,000 crore over five years to strengthen research and focus on the national priority trust area. 
• National Language translation mission to translate policy-related information that will be available on the internet in regional languages.
• Deep Ocean Mission for ocean exploration and biodiversity conservation

Also read:

Budget 2021 expectations: Here’s what experts have to say

Union Budget 2020-21: Small change for human capital development