Union Budget 2025: Universities emphasise on climate literacy, research programmes

NEW DELHI: Expecting an increase in allocation to the higher education sector in the Union budget 2025, university heads and professors emphasised on research programmes, skill development, climate literacy, and online education. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the India budget 2025.

Rohan Dutta, associate professor, Anant School For Climate Action, believes that the India Budget 2025 presents a pivotal opportunity to prioritise climate education in alignment with the visions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change under the National Action Plan.

He expects an increase in budgetary allocations to incorporate climate literacy at all levels of education, from primary schools to higher institutions. This must include curriculum redesigns focused on sustainability, renewable energy, conservation, and practical skill-building programmes for green jobs. Investments in teacher training and digital resources can enhance the reach and effectiveness of climate education, especially in rural and underserved areas. Collaboration with industries and research institutions can foster innovation hubs within educational institutions, promoting climate solutions tailored to India's unique challenges.

“Climate change is no longer abstract - it directly affects livelihoods, health, and economies. Therefore, empowering the next generation with knowledge and solutions is an investment in long-term resilience. The 2025 budget must demonstrate a commitment to making climate education a cornerstone of national development, aligning with global best practices and India's ambitious sustainability commitments. Only with informed citizens can India truly lead in creating a sustainable and climate-resilient world,” he added.

Focus on research and innovation

Sharing his views on the India budget 2025, Vinay Maheshwari, executive director, Mohan Babu University, said, "As India strives to position itself as a global knowledge hub, the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26 presents a critical opportunity to address the pressing needs of the higher education sector. The focus must be on fostering research and innovation, enhancing graduate employability, and bridging the gap between academia and industry. Increasing the allocation for higher education is essential to upgrade infrastructure, promote research and development in emerging areas like artificial intelligence. To tackle the growing skill gap, the government should incentivize collaborations between universities and industries to align curriculum with market demands.”

Additionally, corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions should be encouraged further in the higher education sector, ensuring increased funding for academic excellence and skill development programmes. Removing taxation on the purchase of research equipment will significantly boost research productivity and innovation.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) must be made more inclusive by extending its benefits to private institutions, recognizing their vital role in driving research and innovation.

"Equally important is the need to ensure equitable access to quality education. Expanding scholarships, strengthening public institutions in rural and underserved regions, and leveraging technology for inclusive learning can drive transformative change," the director said.

“As our finance minister prepares to present budget 2025, it’s important to remember that our journey towards a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next three years relies heavily on India’s young demographic. It’s laudable how the government has invested heavily in skill development and the pioneering One Nation One Subscription initiative, emphasising on the need to bridge skill-employability gap and democratise access to research, respectively,” he added.

Skill development

“We believe strategic investments and robust public-private partnerships in skill development will further bridge the gaps and meet the demands of future workforce. The demand for 6 per cent GDP allocation to education under NEP is another step that the government needs to consider for an educational revolution, particularly with the need for teacher training, enhanced learning resources to impart future skills and the development of future-ready learners,” said Arun Rajamani, Managing Director of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, South Asia.

Online education

Professor Anand Achari, principal, VES College of Architecture looks forward to continuing emphasis on advancing higher education, building on the progress made last year. One important focus, according to him, is enhancing digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where over 60% of the population still lacks reliable internet access. This gap is limiting the reach and potential of online education, and without addressing it, we risk leaving a significant portion of the population behind, he thinks.

In addition, strengthening skill-based training programmes and encouraging closer collaboration between educational institutions and industries is vital to ensure that our curricula are aligned with the needs of today’s job market. This will better equip students with the skills they need, while also boosting their employability. “We are also hopeful that the budget will include policies to encourage international collaborations, which will enhance the global competitiveness of Indian education and attract more international students,” he said.

The timely and effective implementation of the NEP 2020 is critical for the sector’s growth. Initiatives such as the operationalization of the NRF are key to driving research and innovation. Finally, a fast-track process for patent applications within educational institutions will foster a culture of innovation and contribute to the nation’s overall research and development goals.

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According to Sanamdeep Chadha, director, Genesis Global School, Noida, the allocation for the education sector in the Union Budget is uniformly increased almost every year. The previous budget for instance allocated an amount of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the education sector, of which a significant chunk was dedicated to the K-12 or school education in the country.

“For a true futuristic nation building though, there is an urgent need for a massive increase in the allocation for upgrading foundational education among the citizens of tomorrow. We would, hence, like to keep the authorities informed about some of the existing pertinent challenges, specific to the urban education ecosystem. Policies, provisions and allocations that facilitate digital education and adoption of technologies like AI, robotics, and coding, must be one of the priorities of the government in the upcoming Union Budget,” she said.

The other expectation is encouraging public-private partnership for teacher training programmes, focusing on digital pedagogy and subject specialization, along with a strong call for a significant rise in public spending on education, aiming to align with the NEP 2020's recommendations.