Budget 2025: Experts react after announcement for AI push, infra expansion at 5 new IITs, 10,000 extra medical seats

Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget 2025 on Saturday. Pic/PTI

The education experts termed the decision on infrastructure expansion at the five new IITs to facilitate 6,500 more students, 10,000 new medical seats and a big Artificial Intelligence (AI) push as a forward-thinking vision.

The Budget 2025 was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.

The Ministry of Education has been allocated more than Rs 1.28 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, higher than the revised estimate of Rs 1.14 lakh crore in 2024-25. While the Higher Education department has been allocated an amount of Rs 50,067 crore, the school education department has received Rs 78,572.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented her eighth straight Union Budget, also said the government will launch 'Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak' scheme to provide digital form of Indian language books for schools and higher education.

"Union Budget 2025-26 presents a forward-thinking vision for higher education" said UGC Chief M Jagadeesh Kumar.

Sitharaman announced the government will create additional infrastructure at five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and expand IIT Patna. The announcement to expand IIT Patna comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls due later this year.

Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University- "I am glad that the Union Budget 2025 introduces several initiatives to enhance our country's human capital, focusing on skilling, entrepreneurship, AI in higher education and advanced science and technology research. The intent explicitly stated in the budget speech, "Education must take centre stage", is really laudable. The PM Research Fellowship Scheme of providing ten thousand fellowships to full time research scholars in IITs and IISc is definitely a move to boost the science and technology innovation in the country. The allocation to institute five national centres of skilling with global expertise aiming to equip the youth with the skills necessary for "Make for India, Make for the World" manufacturing is also bold step forward. The proposed outlay of Rs. 500 Crores for setting up a Centre for Excellence in AI in Education would strengthen education with cutting edge technologies. However, the quantum of allocation for this very meagre compared to the global investments in this area in countries like China and the US. To address the growing healthcare needs, the budget has allocated provision for additional 10,000 medical seats in medical colleges, which will contribute to a much more equipped healthcare workforce in the country. Putting up 50,000 more Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in government schools would be helpful to the much-required nurturing of curiosity and in fostering innovation among school children. The additional provision for the Bharat Net broadband connectivity in schools, including secondary and primary schools will enhance access to digital resources for education. The budgetary support for the Bharatiya Bhaasha Pustak Scheme for providing digital versions of Indian Language books, will make education more accessible comprehensible. Addition of 6500 more seats for the IITs established after 2013 is also significant step forward for promoting technology education. Overall, the emphasis given to higher education, skill development, entrepreneurship, professional education and digital innovations in Indian Language Promotion in schools, is really laudable."

Sitharaman announced that 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals next year towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats over the next five years.

"The total number of students in 23 IITs has increased by 100 per cent from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh in the past 10 years. Additional infrastructure will be created in the five IITs started after 2014 to facilitate education for 6,500 more students. Hostel and other infrastructure capacity at IIT Patna will also be expanded," she said.

The IITs have been allocated an amount of Rs 11,349 crore in the union budget, up from a revised estimate of Rs 10,467 crore in current financial year.

"The government has added almost 1.1 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate medical education seats in 10 years, an increase of 130 per cent. In the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next five years," Sitharaman said.

The FM also announced 10,000 fellowships will be provided for technology research in IITs and IISc over the next five years.

"Five national centres for excellence for skilling with global expertise and partnerships will be set up and 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in government schools in the next five years to cultivate scientific temper in young minds," she said.

Sitharaman said that the broadband connectivity will be provided to all government secondary schools and primary healthcare centres in rural areas.

Kavita Kerawalla, Vice Chairperson of VIBGYOR Group of Schools said: "We welcome the Union Budget 2025-2026's forward-thinking initiatives in education. The establishment of Centres of Excellence for education, with a substantial budget allocation, along with the focus on ATAL Tinkering Labs, marks a transformative step towards integrating new-age technology and fostering a spirit of curiosity and innovation within our educational framework. This initiative will not only promote research and development but also serve as a hub for skilling and upskilling students in cutting-edge technologies. With these new budget allocations, we are excited about the opportunities to enhance learning experiences and prepare our students to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Furthermore, these initiatives align with India's broader vision of becoming a global knowledge hub, reinforcing our collective goal of shaping future-ready leaders."