Educational highlights of Union Budget

Union Budget 2014-14 Highlights:

1. Sports University to be set up in Manipur; Rs.100 cr provided in current financial year
2. Govt will set up national sports academy for different sports in different parts of India
3. FTII Pune, SRFTI Kolkata to get special status of national importance
4. Proposes to set up 5 new IIMs and 5 new IITs
5. Proposes 12 more Govt Medical colleges with dental facilities
6. Propose to set up four more AIIMS; Rs.500 crore set aside for this. Six new AIIMS started recently have become functional
7. The four new AIIMS will be in Andhra, West Bengal, Vidarbha and Purvanchal: Jaitley
8. FM laments apathy towards girl child, announces 'Beti padhao, beti badhao yojana', sets aside Rs.100 crore for this
9. Proposes to allocate Rs 100 crore for upgradation of Madrasas.
10. Proposal to ease and simplify norms to facilitate education loans for higher studies.
11. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya New Teachers Training Programme  worth Rs 500 crore  to be  launched
12. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan worth Rs 28,635 crore and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan worth Rs 4,966 crore to be initiated.
13. A School Assessment Programme to start up at a cost of Rs 30 crore.
14. Two new institutes for farming and Agro technology to be set up in Assam and Jharkhand.
15. Lok Nayak National Centre for Higher Education to be established.
16. New research centres to be set up in Assam and Jharkhand.
17. Rs 200 crore allocated to set up Agriculture Universities in various states like Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
18. Horticulture Universities to be set up in Haryana and Telangana.
19. A programme for the upgradation of skills and training in ancestral arts for development for the minorities called "Up gradation of Traditional Skills in Arts, Resources and Goods" would be launched to preserve the traditional arts and crafts which are rich heritage.
20. Two new biotechnology clusters to be established at Bangalore and Faridabad.
21. The government proposes Rs 100 crore for the Young Leader Programme.
22. The government has proposed to establish national level institutes for Universal Inclusive Design and Mental Health Rehabilitation and also a Centre for Disability Sports.
23. Government to allocate Rs 500 crore as part of digital India programme to ensure broadband connectivity at village level as well as to ensure transparency in governance.
24. Government proposes that the school curriculum must have a separate chapter on gender mainstreaming.
25. A national multi-skill programme called Skill India is proposed to be launched. It would skill the youth with an emphasis on employability and entrepreneur skills. It will also provide training and support for traditional professions like welders, carpenters, cobblers, masons, blacksmiths, weavers etc. Convergence of various schemes to attain this objective is also proposed.
26. E-visas to be introduced at nine airports of the country.
27. Apprenticeship Act will be suitably amended to make it more responsive to industry and youth. MSMEs will also be encouraged to avail the benefits of this scheme.
28. Proposal to set up a Hastkala Academy for the preservation, revival and documentation of the handloom/handicraft sector in PPP mode in Delhi. An amount of Rs 30 crore has been set aside for this purpose.
29. Five technical research centres to be strengthened through PPP for nanotechnology.
30. National Academy for Customs & Excise to be established at Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh.
31. Employment exchanges will be transformed into career centres and information and counselling will also be provided for job availability.

Educational highlights of Union Budget 2013-14:
Rs 4, 727 crore to be allocated for medical education and research;
Rs 1, 650 crore allocated for the purpose of setting up of medical colleges in six more AIIMS-like institutions;
Rs 13, 215 crore for mid-day meal programme;
Government committed to reconstruction of Nalanda University" - But no specific funds for the project was announced;
Rs 27, 250 crore to Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyaan.