MUMBAI: While the state’s budgetary allocation for education, sports, arts, and culture in 2025-26 has risen by about Rs 7,000 crore compared to the previous year, the sector’s overall share of the total budget has been shrinking. This year, the combined allocation for these areas—falling under the broader social sector—accounts for 13.9% of the total budget, marking a nearly 4% decrease from its share in 2019-20.
Last year, the state set aside Rs 98,438 crore for education and other allied sectors, of which only Rs 95,523 crore were utilised so far. In 2023-24, the state used only about Rs 91,647 crore. In 2019-20, education, sports, arts, and culture had a combined share of 17.6% in the total budget allocation. “The Kothari Commission (also known as the National Education Commission) in 1964 recommended spending around 6% of the country’s GDP on education. We are way off the mark, at the national level and even at the state level,” said Sociologist Dr Ravi Duggal.
Speaking about the state’s commitment to the social sector, Duggal said that the overall allocation has declined and whatever is allocated is also underspent. “The increase in allocation is largely used for salaries. There is very little being spent on the development of institutions, which is leading to privatisation. The govt is encouraging aided institutions to offer more and more self-financed courses for them to become self-sustainable, thereby privatising the sector,” said Duggal.
Higher Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, in a statement released on Monday, said that the budget has made substantial provisions for the effective implementation of the National Education Policy. While no major scheme was announced in the budget for the education sector, the announcement made last year on providing free ship to girl students will continue. To encourage the representation of girl students in professional education, the govt is reimbursing 100% tuition and examination fees for girls who are admitted through the centralised admission process and whose family’s annual income is less than Rs 8 lakhs.
Welfare schemes for people with disabilities
The govt has decided to set aside a minimum of 1% of the district annual plan fund for the welfare of people with disabilities. Schemes are in the pipeline to provide them with scholarships, financial assistance to purchase artificial limbs and aids, and for the creation of self-employment opportunities.