As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, education leaders across early learning, K–12, higher education, and assessment are calling for a decisive shift from incremental funding to structural reform. Stakeholders stress that allocations must be firmly aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with greater emphasis on improving learning outcomes, strengthening teacher capacity, expanding digital and physical infrastructure, boosting research and innovation, and integrating skills and industry relevance across the education continuum. Sustained public investment, they argue, is critical to ensuring equity, quality, and future-ready education outcomes across urban and rural India.

Stakeholder Quotes

1. “Education must receive funding commensurate with its role in building India’s talent base, with greater focus on teacher professional development, vocational education, public–private partnerships, and improved infrastructure in rural and public schools.”
— Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions

2. “Budgetary priorities should include digital infrastructure and institutional capacity-building to support higher education reforms under NEP 2020, with online education playing a key role in raising the gross enrolment ratio to 50% by 2035.”
— Siddharth Banerjee, CEO, Univo Education

3. “Higher allocations can help expand K–12 capacity, strengthen infrastructure, reduce urban–rural disparities, and improve access through technology integration and lower interest rates on education loans.”
— Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School, Bengaluru

4. “The Budget should focus on access, upskilling, and technological capacity-building in rural and underserved regions, while strengthening blended and skill-based learning models.”
— Niru Agarwal, Managing Trustee, Greenwood High International School

5. “The education sector expects stronger investment aligned with Viksit Bharat and Startup India, with emphasis on public education funding, research, digital infrastructure, faculty development, and integration of skilling, innovation, and entrepreneurship under NEP 2020.”
— Dr. Santosh Narayankhedkar, Dean – Academics, Somaiya Vidyavihar University

6. “Early childhood education and corporate childcare are economic enablers. Targeted tax incentives, simplified compliance, and early learning infrastructure are essential to boost workforce participation.”
— Swati Jain, Director, The Banyan

7. “Higher education funding should prioritise teaching quality, campus infrastructure, faculty development, research, and technology-enabled access to improve long-term outcomes.”
— Vishnu Manchu, Pro-Chancellor, Mohan Babu University

8. “Stronger support for AI, research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary innovation hubs will enable universities to contribute meaningfully to India’s technology and research ambitions.”
— Koneru Lakshman Havish, Vice President, KL Deemed to be University

9. “Focused investment in industry-integrated curricula, internships, and hands-on learning is critical to bridging the employability gap.”
— Koneru Lakshman Havish, Vice President, KL Deemed to be University

10. “Investment in research infrastructure, digital learning platforms, and interdisciplinary programmes will strengthen India’s higher education ecosystem.”
— Dr. Ashwini Sharma, Acting Director – Institute of Management, JK Lakshmipat University

11. “Prioritising skill development, apprenticeships, and industry–academia collaboration will create a future-ready workforce.”
— Dr. Ashwini Sharma, Acting Director – Institute of Management, JK Lakshmipat University

12. “A meaningful increase in education spending, aligned with NEP’s 6% of GDP target, is essential to strengthen skilling, digital transformation, and rural learning outcomes.”
— Ravin Nair, Managing Director, QS I-GAUGE

13. “Bold reforms that promote AI-enabled learning, digital infrastructure, industry–academia collaboration, and affordable access are critical for India’s education ecosystem.”
— Rajiv Gowda, Chief Executive Officer, East Point Group of Institutions

14. “The Union Budget must move beyond incremental changes and focus on a structural upgrade of education, shifting from access to quality learning outcomes. Targeted funding is needed to support experiential and laboratory-based learning, STEM infrastructure, curriculum reform, and a comprehensive overhaul of teacher training aligned with inquiry-based pedagogy.”
— Vallish Herur, Executive Chairman, Prayoga Institute of Education Research

15. “A future-oriented Union Budget should prioritise long-term investment in infrastructure, digital learning platforms, faculty development, and teacher training, while expanding scholarships, affordable financing, and research funding to ensure inclusive, innovation-led education.”
— Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University

16. “The Budget must make education more affordable and accountable by reducing GST on educational services and shifting toward outcome-based funding that links spending to learning outcomes, employability, and real impact.”
— Prateek Maheshwari, Co-Founder, PhysicsWallah

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