Education Budget 2026: Here's how education stakeholders reacting on Union Budget

Centre has proposed setting up of three new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and to add 75,000 medical seats over five years. Here's how education stakeholders reacted to the union budget. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed setting up of three new All India Institute of Ayurveda, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. Sitharaman has also announced the setting up of five university townships. The minister has proposed to reduce TCS rate for pursuing education and for medical purposes under the liberalised remittance scheme, popularly known as LRS, from 5 per cent to 2 per cent. The government has also proposed the formation of a high-level committee in the area of 'Education to Employment and Entrepreneurship'. This committee will recommend measures focused on the services sector as a key driver for a developed India.

The Supreme Court's stay on the UGC Equity Regulations did not bring calm to university campuses. Instead, it triggered sharply different responses across India's legacy universities.

At Delhi University, the student groups supported by the Left protested for the regulation which has been stalled for a long time, to be enforced in all institutions, thereby emphasizing the immediate necessity to protect the rights of underprivileged students.

JNU, BHU and DU's responses when combined reflect not merely a disagreement over a regulation, but an even more profound rift in how world's first, class universities at the Indian level conceptualize caste, equity and change.

TORCHES AND SLOGANS AT JNU

In the torchlit passageways of Jawaharlal Nehru University, students called for the government to pass a national law against discrimination in higher education and the complete execution of the UGC Equity Regulations, stating that lack of justice on campus might lead to protests on the streets.

On the other hand, students from the SC, ST, and OBC communities at Banaras Hindu University went on a rally with letters, placards, and references from official reports, demanding an Equal Opportunity Centre, an Equity Committee, and clear procedures for dealing with discrimination.

At Delhi University, the student groups supported by the Left protested for the regulation which has been stalled for a long time, to be enforced in all institutions, thereby emphasizing the immediate necessity to protect the rights of underprivileged students.

JNU, BHU and DU's responses when combined reflect not merely a disagreement over a regulation, but an even more profound rift in how world's first, class universities at the Indian level conceptualize caste, equity and change. One more push against Rohit's murderers, and Manusmriti/Brahminism will burn!)", while protesting.

JNUSU President Aditi Mishra and Former President JNUSU Nitish Kumar said that many cases get stuck in the Supreme Court for years and they questioned the urgency of this case.

They cautioned that the agitation will not be limited to the campus if the UGC Act is left unimplemented it will come out on the streets.

The Secretary of the JNUSU Sunil Yadav, while defending the slogans of the protest, told PTI, "The slogans shouted during the protest are of ideological nature and do not target any specific caste or group. "

BHU'S SUPPORT MARCH FOR EQUITY

Something similar happened at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi when not less than thousands of students protested on the streets of the BHU campus.

Hundreds of SC, ST, and OBC students including a large percentage of female students marched in favour of the UGC Equity Regulations and against structural caste discrimination.

Ramji Patel, ex, student of BHU, informed that SC/ST/OBC Unity Forum wanted the university to "immediately constitute an EOC and an Equity Committee, make information public on the website, organise sensitivity programmes, and send timely and transparent reports to the UGC."

They first met at the Vishwanath Temple complex and then proceeded together through the campus to the university gate.

The presence of police was quite large and the proctorial board were kept alert all the time.

Students handed out a letter which alleged structural caste, discrimination in higher education that has been going on for a very long time.

DU JOINS THE PROTESTS

Student groups backed by Left at Delhi University protested against the Supreme Court stay on the UGC regulations and called for their implementation in all universities.

The All India Students' Association conducted marches, drawing attention to data revealing an increase in complaints of caste based discrimination.

Sooraj Elamon, SFI Delhi President, said, "We reject the judicial stay and urge the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional rights of the marginalised students."

The group also called for the UGC regulations to be extended to all institutions.

TEACHERS RAISE DOUBTS

Even faculty voices were uneasy. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association has criticised the UGC Equity regulations for "not even remotely" addressing the discrimination that exists in deep, rooted and systemic forms in higher education institutions. JNUTA also said that it "has not seen the order of the honourable court or the grounds for its order, " and that the statement "is independent of this order and reflects the outcome of the discussion at yesterday's meeting."

The differences are quite significant. The protests at JNU have been framed as a fight for ideological space and the need for immediate implementation of the reform.

The march at BHU is an expression of the plea for institutional support and the development of a system to help marginalised students. In Delhi, it is at once a matter of solidarity as well as a legislative plea.

As protests continue, the debate around the UGC Equity Regulations has moved beyond legality. It now reflects a larger struggle over how universities understand equality, and who gets to define it.