By IANS,
New Delhi : Keeping its promise to boost higher education in India, the union budget 2009-10 Monday allocated the sector over Rs.40 billion more than the last fiscal, including a package of over Rs.10 billion for the implementation of quota for other backward castes (OBCs).
The higher education budget for the current fiscal has been pegged at Rs.15,429 crore (Rs.154.29 billion) including a planned allocation of Rs.9,600 crore. During the last financial year, the total allocation was Rs.11,340 crore.
“The demographic advantage India has, in terms of large percentage of young population, needs to be converted into a dynamic economic advantage by providing them the right education and skills,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while presenting the budget.
The University Grant Commission (UGC) has been provide an allocation of Rs.4,374.95 crore which includes expenditure for both central and deemed universities.
“The government shall take forward its intent of having one central university in each uncovered state and for this purpose I am allocating Rs.827 crore,” the minister announced in his budget speech.
Clarifying on expenditure for implementation of 27 percent quota for the OBC students, the budget underlined that “the allocation for central universities includes a provision of Rs.1,033 crore for implementation of oversight committee recommendations on implementations of the reservation for OBC communities.”
The provision for the scheme Mission in Education through ICT has been substantially increased to Rs.900 crore. Similarly the provision for setting up and upgradation of polytechnics under the skill development mission has been increased to Rs.495 crore.
Announcing a special package for Panjab University, Mukherjee said: “The facilities at Panjab University, Chandigarh, need to be improved. I therefore, propose to make an allocation of Rs.50 crore for this university.”
The budget has also allocated Rs.90 crore for Indira Gandhi National Open University and state open universities to promote distance education.
The budget further underlined that there is a provision of Rs.3,902 crore for technical education that includes provision towards assistance to IITs, IIMs and NITs.