Govt announces loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions

New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday announced financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions even as it slashed the grant for the higher education regulator UGC by over 60 per cent.

The allocation for prestigious B-schools — Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) — has also been reduced for the second consecutive year, according to the Union Budget.

The budget for school education has been increased by over Rs 535 crore but the grant for higher education reduced by over Rs 9,600 crore from the previous fiscal year’s revised estimate (RE).

“For helping our youth who have not been eligible for any benefit under govt schemes and policies government will provide financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions. E-vouchers for this purpose will be given directly to one lakh students every year with interest subvention of 3 per cent of the loan amount,” Sitharaman said.

The Union Budget for 2024-25 will provide Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling in the country.

She said, “1,000 ITIs will be upgraded in a hub and spoke model, course content and design will be aligned to the skill needs of industry and new courses will be introduced for emerging needs. I am happy to announce a new centrally sponsored scheme for skill development in which 20 lakh youth will be skilled over a period of 5 years”.

“The model skill loan scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to RS 7.5 lakh with a guarantee from government promoted fund..this measure is expected to help 25,000 students every year,” she added.