Budget 2026: Education Sector Demands Outcome-Driven Reforms, Higher Funding

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026, at 11 am.
• Education sector seeks a shift from incremental funding to outcome-driven reforms and higher allocations for school and higher education.
• Demands include faster implementation of NEP 2020, increased investment in teacher training, and institutional capacity building.
• Stakeholders advocate for student-centric financing mechanisms like transparent scholarships and affordable credit for middle-income families.
• Focus on aligning education funding with employability, skilling, industry exposure, emerging technologies, and digital infrastructure.

Why It Matters: The education sector expects Budget 2026 to prioritize outcome-driven reforms, increased funding, and student-centric financing.