Budget 2019: FM Sitharaman Proposes ‘Study in India’ Programme

She said the Centre will bring in a new national education policy to transform India’s higher education system.

Sitharaman said the government will bring in a new national education policy to transform India’s higher education system to one of the best in the world.

(Photo: PTI)

The Centre on Friday, 5 July, allocated Rs 400 crore for setting up world-class education institutes and announced the 'Study in India' programme that will aim at attracting foreign students to the country.

Presenting the first Budget of the NDA government in its second term, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will bring in a new national education policy to transform India's higher education system to one of the best in the world.

National Research Foundation to Be Set Up

The policy proposed major changes in both school and higher education, to improve governance and focus more on research and innovation. For this, a National Research Foundation (NRF) would be set up to coordinate and promote research in the country, she said, according to PTI.

"NRF will ensure that the overall research ecosystem in the country is strengthened with focus on identified thrust areas relevant to our national priorities and towards basic science without duplication of effort and expenditure," the minister explained.

The funds available with all ministries will be integrated in NRF and would be adequately supplemented with additional funds, she said.

‘Hub of Higher Education’

Sitharaman said to build "world-class institutions" in the field of education, Rs 400 crore has been allocated for the 2019-20 fiscal, which is over three times the revised estimates for the previous year, PTI reported.

The finance minister also announced the ‘Study in India’ programme that will focus on attracting foreign students to the country’s higher education institutes.

"India has the potential to become a hub of higher education. I, therefore, propose to start a programme ‘Study in India' that will focus on bringing foreign students to study in our higher educational institutions," said Sitharaman, according to IANS.

A draft legislation for setting up Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) would be presented in the year ahead, she said, adding, "This will help to comprehensively reform the regulatory system of higher education to promote greater autonomy and focus on better academic outcomes."

‘Khelo India’ Scheme to be Expanded

The minister also said the Khelo India Scheme, aimed at reviving sports culture in India at the grass-root level, will be expanded to provide all necessary financial support.

Also, a National Sports Education Board for Development of Sportspersons would be set up under the Khelo India Scheme to popularise sports at all levels.

Sitharaman highlighted that three institutes – two IITs and IISc Bangalore – are in the top 2,000 institutions in world university rankings, which, she claimed, was not there five years back, according to PTI.

This has been achieved due to concerted efforts by the institutions to boost their standards and also project their credentials better, she said.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)