Education Budget's Shrinking Share: What the Data Shows Since 2014
Over the past three days, Delhi's Jantar Mantar has seen protests by students from across India, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The immediate trigger was the leak of the 2026 NEET-UG question paper, the latest in a series of exam paper leaks. Reports indicate more than 150 competitive examinations have experienced leaks in the last decade.
A recent investigation by The Indian Express into 45 major exam leaks over the past 20 years found that only two led to convictions. Most cases remain unresolved, and two accused individuals are now elected members of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Beyond the immediate outrage, a broader question is how the government's handling of the education sector can be assessed. While there is no single metric, the allocation of funds in the Union Budget provides insight into the priority given to education. Critics have long argued that Indian governments underfund education and health.
Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows that from 2009-10 onwards, the total Union Budget grew at an average of 10.4% per year. However, the share of the education ministry (formerly Human Resource Development) in the overall budget has declined during the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which came to power in 2014.
For instance, in 2009-10, the education ministry's allocation was about 3.3% of the total budget. By 2014-15, it had risen slightly. However, in subsequent years, it fell to around 2.9% in 2023-24. This decrease occurred even as absolute spending increased due to overall budget growth.
The decline in relative share suggests that education has become a lower priority compared to other sectors. In comparison, the health ministry's share increased during the same period, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Critics argue that the shrinking share of education funding undermines long-term human capital development. Supporters of the government point to other initiatives, such as the National Education Policy 2020, as evidence of commitment. Nevertheless, the budget data provides a clear, factual basis for evaluating the government's performance.
The protests and the budget figures together highlight a growing concern among students and experts about the state of education in India. The government faces pressure to not only prevent exam leaks but also to increase investment in the sector.
