As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, experts from the education and MSME sectors have shared their suggestions for boosting growth and inclusion. Experts have outlined specific areas where government support can promote innovation, skill development and address financial challenges. can go

Enhancing access and quality of education

Rural support

One of the key recommendations for the education sector is to improve infrastructure, especially in underserved areas.

Rajeev Tiwari and Anurag Gupta, co-founders of STEMROBO Technologies, emphasized the need to invest in high-speed internet and digital devices in schools.

“The government should allocate funds to improve digital infrastructure in rural areas. Investment in digital tools and smart classrooms will help bridge the educational gap between urban and rural students,” Tiwari said.

“Teacher training in new technologies like AI, coding and robotics is essential to prepare students for future job markets,” added Gupta.

Expanding access to international education for students

Financial aid for students pursuing higher education Study abroad There is another pressing area.

Diljit Sindhu, CEO of Dalton AI Portal, proposed to reduce the tax collected on foreign remittances (TCS) from 20% to 5% for education.

“This reduction will reduce the financial burden on families managing the high costs of studying abroad. Also, allocating more funds for scholarships and interest subsidies on student loans will make global education more affordable for Indian students. will become accessible,” Sindhu added.

AI and personalized learning for education

With technology revolutionizing education, SpeakX founder and CEO Arpit Mittal highlighted the importance of integrating AI into education.

“The Union Budget should focus on making AI tools accessible to students, especially in rural and underprivileged areas. Provide tax incentives for edtech companies to scale AI-powered personalized learning solutions. I will get help,” said Mittal.

He also emphasized the need to invest in digital infrastructure to ensure equal access to these tools.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Education Reforms

Rochi Arora, associate professor at BIMTECH, suggests that collaboration between the public and private sectors can play a significant role in improving education.

“The government should leverage the strengths of both sectors to expand digital learning infrastructure, provide scholarships, and offer skill-based programs tailored to industry needs,” Arora said.

It also called for an increase in GDP for education, recommending an increase of at least 6%, as suggested by the NEP.

Strengthening the MSME sector for global competitiveness

Technology adoption in MSMEs

MSME Sector, Innovation and technology adoption, the backbone of India’s economy, needs to be addressed.

Abhishek Anand, Partner, Microsave Consulting, suggested encouraging MSMEs to integrate advanced technologies like AI, blockchain and robotics.

“These technologies can increase productivity, boost innovation, and enable MSMEs to compete globally. Budgets should focus on providing financial incentives for technology adoption,” Anand said. said

New financing mechanisms for MSMEs

To support MSME growth, Anand also recommended introducing innovative financing mechanisms, such as crowdfunding and supply chain financing.

“These mechanisms can open up new funding avenues, helping MSMEs overcome financial constraints and enabling them to scale effectively,” he added.