NEW DELHI: According to the PRS Report, In 2024-25, spending on education fell 5% short of budgeted estimates, with school education underspending by 7% and higher education by 2%.
The school education budget was ₹73,008 crore, but only ₹67,571 crore was spent. Similarly, higher education spending was ₹46,482 crore against an estimate of ₹47,620 crore.
The share of education in the Union Budget has also declined, rising from 3.8% of GDP in 2013-14 to an estimated 4.64% in 2020-21, still below the NEP’s target of 6%.
The report highlighted that Key schemes like PM-POSHAN, PM-SHRI, and STARS experienced significant underspending.
The budgeted funds for PM-POSHAN in 2024-25 were ₹12,467 crore, but actual spending was ₹10,000 crore, a 20% shortfall.
PM-SHRI saw an underspend of 26%, with actual expenditure of ₹4,500 crore compared to the budgeted ₹6,050 crore.
STARS, which supports state education initiatives, had a budget of ₹1,250 crore, but only ₹850 crore was spent, marking a 32% shortfall.
The report also noted that PM-USHA, which aims to upgrade higher education infrastructure, saw an underspend of 51%, with actual spending at ₹895 crore against the budgeted ₹1,815 crore. Additionally, student financial aid saw 33% less spending than budgeted.
The PM-POSHAN scheme, which serves mid-day meals to 11.8 crore children, has an allocation of ₹12,500 crore for 2025-26. It is projected to account for 10% of the Ministry’s expenditure in 2025-26.
From 2018-19 to 2023-24, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, which focuses on education reform, utilized 85% of its allocated budget on average, leaving 15% unspent. In 2025-26, 52% of the Department’s allocation is for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Additionally, 56% is allocated to transfers to central universities and IITs. Actual spending on IITs, NITs, and central universities in 2024-25 exceeded the allocated budget as per the data provided by PRS Report