Even as the budgetary allocation for education in the recently presented Maharashtra Budget 2025-16 has risen by 7,035 crores compared to the previous year, the budget is met with criticism by the stakeholders over the absence of new schemes, programmes and announcements. The overall shade of education in the budget, however, has seen a decline.
Moreover, with education being a concurrent subject, experts believe that although the figures are on a rise, whether the allocation has gone to education sector alone. Stakeholders also rue the lack of clarity and sought a separate announcement for education alone. Also, while education held a share of 14.7% in the overall budget last year, the percentage has now declined to 13.9%.
In 2025-26, the Maharashtra government has announced a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,05,473 crores towards education, sports, art and culture as against Rs 98,438 crores the previous year.
Deputy chief minister and finance minister of Maharashtra presented a seven-lakh crore budget on March 10.
A majority of the allocations have been channelised towards meeting the expenditures under already existing schemes.
Among the newer announcements, he said that the state will provide 100% reimbursement of the educational and examination fees to encourage the professional education for girls. This benefit is given to female students who are admitted through the centralized admission process in recognized higher and professional courses, and whose family’s annual income is less than Rs 8 lakhs.
Job creation: To generate employment for youth, Pawar said that the State government signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 63 companies in January 2025, during the World Economic Forum held in Davos. An investment of Rs 15,72,654 crores is expected in the near future through these agreements, which is estimated to create around 16 lakhs employment opportunities
The budget also proposes that an Innovation City will be established in 250 acres of land in Navi Mumbai to provide employment opportunities to the youth and to ensure that the State leads in new initiatives.
In relation to this, to upskill students to be industry-ready, the Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skill University in collaboration with Microsoft will provide training to 10,000 women in skill and artificial intelligence.
“Maharashtra will announce the new Industrial Policy for 2025 soon. The Policy aims to attract investments worth Rs 40 lakh crores and create 50 lakh jobs over its five-year period… At the World Economic Forum held in Davos, investment agreements worth Rs 21,830 crores were signed for Gadchiroli district, expected to generate 7,500 jobs.” he said, “Memorandum of understanding has been signed for 38 pump storage hydroelectric projects in the State through public-private partnerships. This is expected to bring in an investment of Rs 2.95 lakh crores and create 90,000 jobs in the State.”
Language promotion: A research center and a translation academy for the study and research of Classical Marathi language will be established at the Marathi Language University at Riddhapur to promote and preserve the heritage of the Marathi language by facilitating advanced research and translation studies.
Solar power: Solar Power Systems will be installed in all Government offices, medical colleges and health institutions, across the State.
Memorial: A memorial and women’s training center will be established at Naigaon, Taluka Khandala, District Satara at the birthplace of Dnyanjyoti Savitribai Phule honoring her work. Phule was a social reformer and first female teacher in India.
