New Delhi, 01 February 2021: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented Union Budget 2021-22 today (01 February 2021). The Government of India will set up a new Central University in Leh for accessible higher education in Ladakh. 100 new Sainik Schools will be set up in partnership with NGOs/ private schools/states.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposes that Higher Education Commission of India will be set up soon and will introduce Legislation this year to implement the same. It will be an umbrella body having 4 separate vehicles for standard-setting, accreditation, regulation, and funding.
To promote enhanced academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions, it is proposed to put in place a regulatory mechanism to permit dual degrees, joint degrees, twinning arrangements and other such mechanisms.
The Government proposes to amend the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to further enhancing apprenticeship opportunities for our youth. The Budget Proposes to realign the existing scheme of National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) for providing post-education apprenticeship, training of graduates and diploma holders in Engineering. Over INR 3,000 crores will be provided for this.
The Gudget informed that an initiative is underway, in partnership with the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), to benchmark skill qualifications, assessment, and certification, accompanied by the deployment of certified workforce. “We also have a collaborative Training Inter Training Programme (TITP) between India and Japan to facilitate transfer of Japanese industrial and vocational skills, technique, and knowledge. We will take forward this initiative with many more countries,” added Nirmala Sitharaman.
A National Digital Educational Architecture (NDEAR) will be set up within the context of a Digital First Mindset where the Digital Architecture will not only support teaching and learning activities but also educational planning, governance and administrative activities of the Centre and the States/ Union Territories.
Nitin Potdar, Partner J. Sagar Associates on Education sector said “An allocation of INR 3,002.21 crores to skill development ministry and its various programmes is a welcome step but not sure whether that’s enough given the current pandemic and need to create a digital infrastructure for education. Higher Education Commission, an Umbrella body to regulate education, is a welcome step and hopefully would provide clarity and ease for educational institutions to introduce multiple academic programs. However, there is a disappointment due to no relief from the burdensome 18% GST on Edtech industry which is doing a massive job of educating our n”ext generation”.
Mr. Rohan Krishna, CEO, Co-Founder, Elite said “The newly announced Higher Education Commission can deploy resources and funds into hybridizing vocational and professional skills training for this youth with a mixture of e-learning and skills building in vocational centres. The initiative to strengthen our human capital and train our youth by providing INR 3000 crores towards the National Apprenticeship Scheme is a hugely welcome step.”
