Union Budget 2020 - Academia shares observations and insights
Nation can progress well if we focus on health & education. All depends on implementation.
- Overall budget seems to be people- centric, growth oriented (focus on MSME & Service sector))
- It talks about last mile connectivity, through allocation on technology & internet.
- It has focused on salaried people by reducing tax burden.
I am happy that it is contemplating in giving autonomy to institutions in introducing new courses/degree, those who 
are ranked in top 100 of NIRF Ranking. It is giving signal that innovation in curriculum should be encouraged and also to improve the quality of education through ranking- encouraging healthy competition. New Education Policy will be implemented with good allocation of funds. It is a good initiative to have more medical colleges & attaching them to already established govt hospitals.
This budget has attempted that. Let us see how it will be implemented.
Prof. Biswas - Dean Research, IMT Ghaziabad.
Economic liberalization needed for $5T economy dream
Quality of higher education is directly related / proportional to the level of economy in a nation! This can be seen today with US, EU countries, China, ancient India, Africa, the Singapore then and now, etc. as illustrative examples. Thus, if higher education in India does not measure up to the demands of a higher economy in terms of quality, then irrespective of the projected investments or budget allocations to attain $5T economy, this dream may not be sustainable if achieved, or it may become a pipe-dream! Hence, a major reform in the upcoming higher education bill on the lines of economic liberalization of 1991, is something Indian Higher Education System expects.
Dr. Jitendra K Das, Director FORE School of Management
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Assessment and evaluation of spent on skill development is essential
In the Union budget for education there is no substantial allocation. Without having an analysis of the impact of the spending done on skill development in the last budget allocating another three thousand Crores does not give confidence to stakeholders. Degree level online education is given to 100 top NIRF ranked institutions, which is in itself a good move. But what is done to improve the quality of education in the non-online mode. In the same line, instead improving and enhancing the quality of the degree and diploma level course why there is apprenticeship attached to it. That means what is taught in three year course is not practical. Hope the new educational policy has some directions for all these deficiencies.
Dr Joe Arun, SJ, Director, LIBA
Focus on Education and Skill Building much needed attention in Budget Preparing “Youth for Work” .
Rs 99,300 crore for the education sector and above Rs 3,000 crore for skill development have been allocated for the next fiscal Budget for 2020-21. Apprentice embedded program by 150 higher education institute by March 2021. Steps to attract external commercial borrowing and FDI in the education sector to raise resources for education sector for world-class labs. This will facilitate innovation. The proposal for National Police University and National Forensic University is also need based initiative. Plans to allow degree level full-fledged online education programme by institutions ranked in top 100 and to attach medical colleges with district hospitals on PPP model to deal with shortage of doctors are measures expected to strengthen the fabric and stature of India on Global Education Forum.
Prof. Neelam Rani, Professor Finance, IIM Shillong