In the Union Budget 2021-22, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman set aside Rs 93,224.31-crore towards education, or around Rs 6,087 crore less than the budget estimate for 2020-21.
Experts say, this 6% reduction from Rs 99,311 crore in 2020-21, which is the lowest in three years, may have an adverse effect on school education which is already struggling due the pandemic and ensuing lockdown. This reduction is especially telling as the ministry of education will start implementing the new National Education Policy (NEP) from this year, which advocates increasing government expenditure on education.
The NEP roll-out requires massive investments, with the school education department telling the finance commission that it alone needs Rs 1.14-trillion for a five-year period.