IGI Logo

Below the Quote on Union Budget 2026 by Rohin Kapoor, Partner, Education & Skilling, Management Consulting, BDO India

The Union Budget lays strong emphasis on building the capacity of our people through skilling interventions, including it as one of the three kartavyas defining this year’s Budget. The announcement to set up a High-Powered Education to Employment Committee will focus on transforming the services sector into a core driver for realising the Viksit Bharat ambition by 2047. Proposing measures to integrate AI in school education and teacher training, suggesting reforms for skilling an AI-ready workforce, and examining avenues for service exports will be some of its key mandates.

Lending support to state governments in setting up five university townships in close proximity to industrial corridors will certainly fuel innovation, academic excellence, and skilling. The role of foreign institutions and corporations may be encouraged in such townships to build global credibility and attract investment. The establishment of women’s hostels in every district and promotion of astrophysics are also welcome moves.

It is also pleasing to note the Government’s focus on improving infrastructure in new growth centres (Tier II and III cities) through the CER (City Economic Regions) scheme, which should result in higher manufacturing and services activity, including the establishment of GCCs. The announcement of AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, anchored by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, is a clear effort to develop talent for new-age services.

In terms of misses, the industry was expecting a definitive roadmap toward achieving a 6% of GDP expenditure target for the education sector, rationalization of GST on verified digital learning programs, and the rollout of a red carpet for international K 12 chains, similar to higher education internationalization initiatives.

Above views are of the author and not of the website kindly read disclaimer