Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, presented the Union Budget 2018 today, on February 01, 2018. The opposition part and self-claimed experts cannot stop criticising it. Despite all the loops and the backlash, the budget seems quite promising for the Indian education system.

From the opening of setting up of new architecture and medical colleges to initiating programs to train teachers, the budget offers it all. As per it, the Government will be spending Rs. 1 lakh crore to enhance the education infrastructure and technology status in the education sector.

“Technology will be the biggest driver in improving quality of education. We propose to increase the digital intensity in education and move gradually from blackboard to digital board,” Said Jaitley.

You can read all the major highlights of Union Budget 2018 from below:

# Eklavya Schools to be Started Soon

For the tribal population, Eklavya Schools will be started. It will be done by Revitalizing Infrastructure and System in Education’ by 2020. The schools will be at par with Navodaya Vidayalas and will be established in areas where more than 50% of the population is ST or has a minimum of 20,000 tribal people.

# The Improvement will Begin from Nursery

Arun Jaitley expresses concern that we have somehow managed to send children to school but the quality of education is poor. Hence, the budget 2018 ensures that education now will be treated holistically without segmentation from class nursery to 12th.

# 24 New Medical Colleges

As per World Health Organization, there should be 1 doctor for 1000 population. However, in India, the ratio is 1:2000. To curb the shortfall, Mr. Jately has proposed to set up 24 new government medical colleges in the country. Recently, the MoHFW announced establishing of 3 new AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. This is the beginning to bridge the doctor-patient gap.

# Prime Minister Fellowship Scheme for Top 1000 B.Tech Students

The ‘Prime Minister Fellowship Scheme’ will allow top 1000 B.Tech students to pursue Ph.D in IITs and IISc. The top candidates will be evaluated at all India level.

# Diksha for 13 Lakh Untrained Teachers

A new program Diksha will be started to train 13 lakh, untrained teachers.

“We will initiate an integrated B-Ed programme for teachers,” Read The minister.

# Good News for Architecture Aspirants

The budget proposes to establish 2 new Schools of Planning and Architecture. Along with this, 8 new School of Planning and Architecture will be inaugurated in IITs and NITs.

# What About Railway Recruitment?

Just like last year, Railway Budget was included in UB 2018. However, a new element was added. In his speech,  Arun Jaitley announced that Railway University will be set up in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The Union Budget 2018 focused mainly on agriculture, healthcare benefits, better infrastructure, and education quality. Union Minister has prepared an outlay of Rs. 85,010 crore for the education sector. Out of the total, Rs. 35,010 crore will be used for improving higher education and remaining Rs. 50,000 will be sped for school level education.

What do you think about the Union Budget 2018? Is it feasible? and are these initiatives enough to improve the education system of India? Speak your mind and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.