Delhi Budget: ‘60 CM Shri’ schools, laptops to high-scorers in Class X, new promises for education sector

In her Budget speech, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta 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. The new ‘CM Shri schools’ will be fully compliant with the National Education Policy 2020 and implement the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, she said.

The CM also said that 1,270 flats have been allocated to four Delhi government-run universities — Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU), Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi (DPRSU), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) — to help “establish or expand” their campuses. Language labs offering courses in French, German, English, Spanish, and other languages will also be developed in the city.

The announcement to introduce a new programme — the ‘New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision’ — seems to be the BJP’s take on the ongoing entrepreneurship curriculum. Education Minister Ashish Sood could not be contacted to get details about the difference between the old and new programmes. The Budget also emphasised technical education, with a fund of Rs 230 crore for institutions such as Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship 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 the ‘Rashtraneeti’ programme will be launched, involving students from all classes, to provide practical knowledge of governance, democracy, active citizenship and policy making.

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 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.