The Union Budget 2025, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, introduced several initiatives to improve education, skilling, and job opportunities for India’s youth. The key highlights include broadband in schools, AI education, new medical and IIT seats, and global skilling centres.
Broadband for Schools
All government secondary schools will get broadband internet under the BharatNet project. This will help students access digital learning resources and improve education quality.
50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs
The government plans to set up 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools over the next five years. These labs will encourage innovation and hands-on learning among students.
Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme
A new Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme will provide digital books in Indian languages. This will help students learn in their regional languages, making education more accessible.
Skilling Centres and Training
Five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling will be set up in partnership with global experts. These centres will create industry-relevant courses, train teachers, and introduce skill certification programs to prepare students for jobs worldwide.
More IIT Seats
The number of students in IITs has doubled in the last 10 years, reaching 1.35 lakh. To meet the rising demand, the government will expand infrastructure in five IITs established after 2014, adding 6,500 more seats. IIT Patna will also receive more hostel and academic facilities.
Artificial Intelligence in Education
A Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education will be set up with an investment of Rs 500 crore. This follows the AI centres introduced last year for agriculture, healthcare, and smart cities.
Medical Education Expansion
Over the last decade, medical education seats have increased by 130%, adding 1.1 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate positions. This year, 10,000 new medical seats will be introduced, with a goal of adding 75,000 more in the next five years.
Tech Research Fellowships
Under the PM Research Fellowship scheme, 10,000 fellowships will be awarded over the next five years to support research in IITs and IISc. This will provide financial aid to students working on technological advancements.
With these initiatives, the government aims to improve education, encourage innovation, and create better job opportunities for the youth of India.
