Dr. Jamshed Bharucha, Vice Chancellor, SRM University AP, Amaravati on the expectations of the education sector from the budget:
“Quality education needs to be made available to all. If we have to keep up with western nations and with regional neighbours in fields of science and technology, the two pillars of growth in the 21st century, our educational institutions need to step up funding on research for a wide range of applications from health sciences, bio-medical, genomics, data science, machine learning, agriculture and food production, space and astrophysics. University led research can be an important bridge between ideas and practical applicability in the industry. We need to put in a greater focus on this and commit resources to centres of excellence that will tackle the areas where research is most needed and of national significance. This needs to be done with a sense of urgency on a national scale. Because University research needs and national priorities(such as Defence Tech, Health & Sanitation, Nutrition & Food) are so closely aligned, the budget should also focus on University Research funding. Of equal importance is the need to invest in the soft skills development within the education sector so that qualified, talented and gifted young Indians are not handicapped in any way by communication abilities that can impede their success on a national and international stage. I hope the interim budget will address at least some of these requirements.”
