Bengal Books a Bright Future: Class Acts Multiply with Bigger Edu Budget

 

Key highlights

 

West Bengal is witnessing a transformative wave in its education sector, marked by unprecedented government investment, rapid expansion of institutions, and a strategic focus on inclusion and infrastructure. This approach positions the state as a notable outlier in India’s educational landscape for 2025–26.

 

Major Budgetary Push

 

For the 2025–26 fiscal year, West Bengal has earmarked a record Rs 41,153.79 crore for school and higher education—one of the largest allocations in the state’s history—with Rs 5,602 crore set aside for Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education to boost inclusivity and career prospects for underrepresented communities.

 

The school education budget has jumped more than twelvefold since 2010–11 (Rs 829 crore) to Rs 10,260 crore in 2024–25, while higher education outlay soared from Rs 1,724 crore to over Rs 6,400 crore in that period.

 

Surge in Schools, Universities, and Access

 

The number of universities in the state has grown from 12 in 2010–11 to 46 in 2025 (31 state-run, 15 private), illustrating the pace of higher education expansion.

 

West Bengal has added 7,260 new schools in the past decade, raising the total to nearly 57,700, and nearly doubled the count of higher education institutions—from 1,056 to 2,049.

 

The gross enrollment ratio leaped from 13.2 lakh to 27.2 lakh students, and gender parity touched 50%, a significant climb from 42% in 2010–11. This points to widespread, more equitable access to education for both boys and girls.

 

Supporting Measures and Economic Context

 

Social sector integration remains central: Rs 38,762 crore has been allocated to Women and Child Development, underlining the state’s commitment to holistic growth.

 

The 2025–26 budget places 14.8% of total expenditure—close to the national average—on education, reflecting sustained strategic prioritization even as debt and fiscal deficit are managed within statutory limits.

 

These investments support a broader economic agenda, leveraging global partnerships (with the Asian Development Bank and Korea Exim Bank) and targeting synergy between rural and urban jobs, new industrial corridors, and a manufacturing push.

 

Looking Ahead

 

West Bengal’s leap in education investment and institutional capacity is remaking opportunities for students statewide, aiming to deepen talent pools, boost inclusivity, and fuel economic growth for the decade ahead.

 

Sources: EducationWorld, Hindustan Times