Budget 2017: Expectations of students

New Delhi: With just a fortnight left for the presentation of the Union Budget, students are hoping that the forthcoming Budget would see some special announcements being made by the Finance Minister.

Students are pinning their hopes high on the Union Budget for 2017-18 and expecting that exemptions against education loans can be extended to 10 years from the currently allowed 8 years.

They hope that there will be no further rise in service tax otherwise educational institutions will increase their fees.

To make domestic higher education more affordable, the government must take adequate steps to decrease education loan rates across the board.

Another area needs the attention of the finance ministry. Focus of government must be on issues like hostel fees, which should be decreased, and number of seats, which should be increased in universities.

But most of all, the number of govt universities must be increased to cater to the rising number of students seeking higher education.

Budget 2017 is an opportunity for the government to concentrate on improving school education for over 260.5 million children who enrolled in elementary and secondary school in 2015-16 -- children who will form the core of Indias working-age population, one billion by 2030, the largest in the world, Pratham, an education nonprofit has said.

The school education and literacy budget increased 3.2 percent in 2016-17, compared to the 2015-16 revised budget estimates.

Along with increasing the amount spent on education, the budget also needs to be restructured to focus on learning outcomes, and monitoring of quality.

Over the financial year 2016-17, the central government allocated Rs 43,554 crore to school education and literacy, and Rs 28,840 crore to higher education.

The finance ministry has invited suggestions from public for Union Budget 2017-18.

Citizen from all walks of life are welcome to be a part of the budget making process. You can submit your suggestions either directly in the comments box or attach a PDF document.

So if you are a student and you have further expectations from the Finance ministry, you can do so at the government portal.