As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, the education sector is closely watching for policy direction that addresses learning outcomes, digital readiness, and future skills development. With India’s demographic advantage placing increasing pressure on education systems, stakeholders are expecting targeted budgetary support for digital infrastructure, teacher upskilling, and curriculum modernisation to better align education with emerging technologies and industry needs.
Mahavir Goel, Chairman, Venkateshwar International School, weighed in with his thoughts. “With Budget 2026 on the horizon, the education sector is looking forward to policy measures that meaningfully enhance learning quality. With nearly 40% of India’s population under the age of 25, upcoming reforms must prioritise robust digital infrastructure, encourage a culture of deep research, and enable a futuristic curriculum rooted in AI, data science, and emerging technologies. This calls for increased public investment in digital learning, teacher development, and infrastructure that can genuinely strengthen and future-proof India’s education ecosystem.”
Dr. Sanjay Salunkhe, Founder, Jaro Education, had his say too. “As India prepares for the upcoming Union Budget, we hope to see continued recognition of education as a core driver of long-term economic growth and the Viksit Bharat vision. Building workforce readiness through outcome-led skilling, industry-aligned learning, and practical capabilities will be crucial as India’s young and working population navigates an increasingly competitive, skills-driven job market. Focused support for digital and online education can further expand access to credible higher and executive education for working professionals across regions and cities.
Strengthening India’s higher education ecosystem through globally competitive curricula, research-led learning, and deeper university industry collaboration will be critical to developing future-ready talent at scale. We also look forward to policies that encourage closer collaboration between academia, industry, and education providers, enabling learners to apply academic learning to real business and workplace contexts. With careers evolving continuously, lifelong learning and ongoing upskilling, particularly in areas such as AI, digital systems, leadership, and management are becoming essential.
At the same time, learning flexibility must be supported by strong academic rigor and institutional credibility. A budget that prioritizes inclusion and recognizes edtech as a key contributor to access, quality, and learner outcomes will reinforce confidence in India’s human capital as the foundation for sustained productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness.”
