As India prepares for the Union Budget 2025, the education sector is anticipating substantial reforms that could significantly impact the country's academic framework. Experts are hopeful that the government will prioritize enhancing the quality of education, increasing support for student loans, and integrating advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), into academic programs to foster a future-ready workforce.
Ashutosh Upadhyay, the Founder of Cognio Labs, emphasized that the education sector is poised for a transformation driven by AI. He noted that global EdTech AI solutions are expected to reach a value of $80 billion by 2030, underscoring the growing significance of AI in education. According to Upadhyay, the Union Budget 2025 should allocate funds to develop personalized learning platforms that are powered by adaptive AI algorithms. He specifically pointed to AI-enabled student assessment tools, virtual learning environments, and automated content generation systems as critical areas where investment could drive progress. These efforts, he believes, would democratize access to quality education and equip students with digital skills that will be essential in the workforce of tomorrow.
Bhupender Kumar Som, Director at GNIOT Institute of Management Studies, stressed the need for increased financial support for students. He advocated for greater flexibility in education financing through expanded allocations for student loans and the introduction of lower interest rates on education loans. This, he argued, would make education more accessible to students from various socio-economic backgrounds. Som also suggested that the government should work on policies that would allow foreign universities to open campuses in India. This would provide students with access to top-tier global education within the country, potentially reducing the need to study abroad.
Jaskiran Arora, Dean of Education Quality at BML Munjal University, highlighted the importance of upgrading India’s education infrastructure. He emphasized the need for fostering global partnerships and increasing foreign investments to help institutions modernize. Arora suggested that the Union Budget should focus on facilitating foreign investments and enabling institutions to access foreign currency loans to upgrade their infrastructure. He also called for an acceleration of the approval process for foreign grants and donations, as well as streamlining regulatory processes to encourage global partnerships and enhance digital learning capabilities.
In sum, experts are calling for transformative reforms in the education sector, with an emphasis on AI integration, better financial support for students, infrastructure upgrades, and international collaboration. These changes, they believe, could have a lasting impact on the future of India’s education system and help create a more inclusive, technology-driven learning environment.
