Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Monday, while presenting the Union Budget 2021, said that a central university will be set up in Ladakh.

Sitharaman also announced Rs 35,219 crores for the period of six years that will help nearly four crore Scheduled Caste students across the nation. 

She said that 100 new Sainik Schools will be set up in India in partnership with NGOs, adding that 15,000 schools will be strengthened as per National Education Policy (NEP).

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After the outbreak of coronavirus in early last year, the whole education sector shifted online as the pandemic forced everyone to stay indoors. The education sector witnessed a smooth transition in the pandemic, during which the central government also announced the NEP 2020. 

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In the Union Budget 2020, the central government increased the allocation for the education sector by 5% to Rs 99,311.52 crore. 

The department of higher education was allocated Rs 39,466.52 crore while the school education and literacy department was given Rs 59,845 crore.

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India spends around 3.1% of its GDP on education, a significant portion of which is distributed to government schools and government-aided schools.