Union Budget 2025-26: Academics expect focus on STAM, IIM-IIT parity, lower tax for low-income students

Here’s a look astatine however academics privation this year’s budget to be:

Professor Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani

To stem encephalon drain, which sees implicit 8 lakh students studying overseas astatine a outgo of astir $70 cardinal annually, prof Ramgopal Rao, vice-chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, stresses the request for making Indian institutions globally competitive. He calls for accrued backing to found overseas campuses, greater autonomy for universities, and outcome-based backing models tied to probe output. “Strengthening module prime and probe ecosystems done important grants and philanthropic incentives volition assistance span the spread betwixt elite and Tier-2 colleges, creating a dynamic higher acquisition strategy that retains apical talent,” helium added.

Professor Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur

Professor Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur, reiterated that India presently spends 4.6 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) connected acquisition and has urged the authorities to determination towards the humanities people of 6 per cent arsenic recommended by the Kothari Commission (1964-66). He besides emphasised the request for equitable fiscal enactment for Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs), which presently deficiency nonstop authorities backing compared to Indian Institute of Technology (IITs). “Increased backing for planetary collaborations, relaxed regulations for overseas partnerships, and greater concern successful STAM probe and micro-credential courses would heighten India’s innovation scenery and make globally competitory talent,” helium said.

Prateek Maheshwari, co-founder of ed-tech level Physicswallah

Prateek Maheshwari, co-founder of ed-tech level Physicswallah, calls for a 100 per cent GST exemption connected acquisition expenses for students from Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Low-Income Group (LIG) families. He highlighted that the existent 18 per cent GST connected higher acquisition and online learning is simply a large burden, particularly erstwhile countries similar Switzerland connection escaped acquisition and China taxes it astatine conscionable 6 per cent. “High taxation rates contradict India’s extremity of 50 per cent GER successful higher acquisition by 2035, creating entree barriers. To marque acquisition much affordable, rationalising pupil indebtedness involvement rates and providing interest-free loans for disadvantaged students is essential,” helium added.

Professor Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode

Professor Debashis Chatterjee, manager of IIM Kozhikode, stressed the value of accrued backing for Startup India and the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). He advocated for a stronger absorption connected Industry 4.0 skills specified arsenic AI, ML, and blockchain to align India’s workforce with planetary trends. Additionally, helium highlighted the request for expanded scholarships and subsidised acquisition loans to amended entree to prime education. “Strengthening the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and providing peculiar fiscal packages for Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutions would assistance span the urban-rural divide,” helium said.

Tr. Chaitanya Dev Singh, nationalist president of Round Table India

School infrastructure and integer acquisition are besides cardinal priorities, according to Tr. Chaitanya Dev Singh, nationalist president of Round Table India (an relation focussing connected gathering classrooms and providing indispensable facilities to underprivileged schools). He pointed retired that the Rs 37,500 crore allocated for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and Rs 73,008 crore for the Department of School Education successful 2024 person already contributed to improving acquisition quality. However, helium urged further concern to accelerate exertion integration, span the integer divide, and align with NEP 2020 goals, positioning India arsenic a planetary acquisition leader.

Meenu Kanwar, main of Amity International School, Mayur Vihar

Meenu Kanwar, main of Amity International School, Mayur Vihar, emphasised that schoolhouse infrastructure improvement should beryllium prioritised done lease-based models, reduced GST connected affiliation services, and sustainability incentives.

Dr Ruchi Arora of BIMTECH

Dr Ruchi Arora of BIMTECH underscored the request for stronger public-private partnerships to code India’s immense acquisition potential, with 580 cardinal younker but lone 51.25 per cent employable graduates. She advocated for integer learning expansion, skill-based education, and fiscal enactment for planetary students to found India arsenic a planetary acquisition hub.

Dr PR Sodani, president of IIHMR University

Health absorption acquisition is different captious absorption area, according to Dr P R Sodani, president of IIHMR University, Jaipur. Sodani has called for strategical investments successful skill-based learning, integer capabilities, and planetary partnerships to fortify the sector. He stressed the request for greater collaboration betwixt industry, academia, and start-ups to accelerate integer innovation and amended wellness outcomes. A integer wellness inducement program could enactment the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, heighten information security, instrumentality physics wellness records, and upskill method resources, Sodani said. Targeted investments successful holistic wellness services would presumption India arsenic a person successful high-quality wellness absorption education, helium remarked.

A well-calibrated fund summation for acquisition and probe volition thrust innovation, empower youth, and solidify India’s presumption arsenic a planetary cognition leader. As the federation looks up to the 2025-26 budget, progressive argumentation measures and accrued investments volition beryllium cardinal to transforming India’s acquisition scenery into an inclusive, future-ready, and globally competitory learning ecosystem.