Delhi Boosts Education Budget By 17% With 60 New CM Shri Schools And Narela Education Hub – News18

Last Updated:March 26, 2025, 07:01 IST

The BJP government in Delhi allocated Rs 19,291 crore for education next year, a 17% increase. Initiatives include CM Shri schools, language labs, and startup support centres.

The newly-formed BJP government in Delhi on Tuesday allocated Rs 19,291 crore for the education sector in the next financial year, over 17 per cent higher than last year, and announced a slew of initiatives, including CM Shri schools, language laboratories, modern computer labs, and startup support centres.

The previous AAP government which boasted its various reform measures in the field of education during the recent assembly polls had earmarked Rs 16,396 crore for education related expenditure in FY25.

The overall budget outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore for the financial year 2025-26 is 31.5 per cent higher from the previous fiscal.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore to set up 60 new CM Shri schools and Rs 500 crore for an education hub in Narela, aiming to strengthen Delhi’s education infrastructure.

The new CM Shri schools will be fully compliant with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and implement the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSC) 2023.

Gupta said that the education hub in Narela is set to expand, with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) allotting 160 acres of land to the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW).

Additionally, 1,270 flats have been allocated to four universities — Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (DPRSU), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) — to help them establish or expand their campuses in the area.

While presenting the budget in the state assembly, Gupta highlighted the government’s commitment to digital learning by announcing free laptops for 1,200 Class 10 students, and set aside Rs 7.5 crore for the initiative.

For the development of multilingual skills, 100 new language labs named after Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will be established, offering courses in French, German, English, Spanish, and other languages. The project has been allocated Rs 21 crore.

The chief minister also introduced a new scheme, ’New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision’, designed to instil a business mindset in students, and allocated Rs 20 crore to support this initiative.

Besides, several startup support centres will be set up across Delhi to help young entrepreneurs with financial assistance and guidance.

Recognising the need for modern infrastructure, Gupta announced the establishment of 175 new computer labs and smart classrooms with an investment of Rs 50 crore.

“In many of Delhi’s existing schools, computer systems are outdated, and this initiative aims to upgrade facilities for students,” she said.

The budget also emphasised technical education, with a fund of Rs 230 crore for institutions such as Delhi Silk Entrepreneur University, Rs 57 crore for Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Rs 42 crore for Delhi Technological University, and Rs 68 crore for Industrial Training Institutes.

“Rs 886 crore has been allocated for training and technical education programmes,” the CM announced.

The CM allocated Rs 21 crore to launch the ’Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Vidya Shakti Mission’, under which professional guidance will be provided to students preparing for JEE, NEET, CLAT, CA and CUET examinations.

She further said that the ’Rashtraneeti’ programme will be launched, involving students from KG to Class 12 of the Government of Delhi with the aim to provide practical knowledge of governance, democracy, active citizenship and policy making.

The government will also start the’Science of Living’ programme for students from KG to Class 12, she said.

To further strengthen technical education, Gupta announced that Rs 20.65 crore has been earmarked for the redevelopment of ITI Pusa and the construction of a new ITI campus in Shahdara.

Under the State Incubation Policy, the government will set up 11 startup incubation centres to encourage entrepreneurship among young people, she said.

The chief minister said that Rs 2.43 crore has been proposed for this initiative, which aims to support startups and equip young entrepreneurs with the skills to become job providers rather than job seekers.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)