Interim Budget 2024: Experts expect focus on AI integration, equal access to education

NEW DELHI: Besides the 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) allocation for the education sector, experts, academics have demanded expansion of infrastructure, promoting skill development and focusing on women’s education. The interim budget will be presented by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

Budget session 2024, the last of the 17th Lok Sabha, will be held between January 31 to February 9. The full-budget will be presented by the new government elected to power after the Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in April-May.

AI integration in education

Vineet Nayar, former CEO of HCL Technologies and founder of Sampark Foundation said that the Indian government should prioritize AI integration in education to align with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). “NEP's goal of 6% GDP allocation to education is a step towards educational revolution, but true transformation lies in embracing AI. AI can personalize learning, making it inclusive and effective. Strategic funding should support AI-driven educational models, digital infrastructure, and AI literacy. Such initiatives must extend beyond conventional classrooms, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic strata.”

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Stating that the “teacher training in AI, developing AI-enabled learning tools, and democratizing technology access” are the need of the hour for an AI-ready generation, ,Nayar said: “The Union Budget 2024 should not only increase allocation but strategically channel resources for AI embedding in education. This step will realize NEP's vision and prepare India for an AI-dominated future, balancing technological advancement with social sector imperatives."

Skill development

Shweta Sastri, managing director of Canadian International School Bangalore said: “In the upcoming budget, some specific areas of favourable allocation should include: expansion of infrastructure for education, investment in skill development programs, particularly in areas that align with emerging industries, expansion of scholarships and other financial aid programs for students from economically weaker sections of society…”

India as global study destination

In addition to strengthening vocational training, Shweta Sastri said India should aim to become a global study destination and attract more foreign students to the country. Youths of India depend on education loans at large. “Encouraging more students to take up their course of interest with lower interest rates on such loans is essential for their optimal growth and development”.

Equal access to education

Niru Agarwal, trustee of Greenwood High International School bats for women’s education. “We urge the government to focus on expanding access to education and technology, particularly in rural and underserved areas. We have to build the right combination of Digital, Physical and on-the-job classrooms infrastructure that will improve the efficacy of learning. We also need to create an enabling environment to let the private sector come forward and establish new institutions. Ease of doing business is more important here than anywhere else.”

“There is also a need to advocate gender-focused allocation to promote womens’ education. The country is in need of expertise at different levels and this demand can be met only by training students at the school level,” Niru Agarwal added.