In the Union Budget 2010-11, presented to Parliament and the nation on February 26, Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, a Congress party veteran who has crafted seven (forgettable) Union budgets in his long career in Indian politics, made a Plan provision (i.e approved by the Planning Commission) of Rs.42,036 crore for education this year — a 15 percent greater outlay. Although this seemingly generous provision aggregates to a mere 0.68 percent of GDP and an annual per capita allocation of Rs.2,930 for India’s estimated 144 million in-school children and youth, it has been acclaimed by Indian academia and the public. Plan outlays under major heads of expenditure are given below.
School education & adult literacy (Rs. crore). Total Plan outlay: Rs.31,036 crore
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Rs.15,000
• National Mid-day Meals programme: Rs.9,440
• Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan: Rs.1,700
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti: Rs.1,385
• Adult Education and Skills Development: Rs.1,167
• Miscellaneous: Rs.2,344
Higher education (Rs. crore). Total Plan outlay: Rs.10,996 crore
• University Grants Commission: Rs.4,390
• Technical Education: Rs.4,706
• National Mission in ICT education: Rs.90
• Miscellaneous: Rs.1,000
Women & child development (Rs. crore)
• Integrated Child Development Services: Rs.8,700
• Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana: Rs.390
• Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Adolescent Girls: Rs.1,000