Lok Sabha Question No. 2988 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Increase Expenditure on Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2988 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## Increase Expenditure on Education

## 2988. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether in 2022, only 2.6 per cent of the nearly 1.9 million candidates who wrote the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in India managed to secure a seat for MBBS in a Government college;
- (b) whether millions of young women and men in the country are denied the opportunity for affordable basic and higher education and there is frustration among the educated due to few decent jobs;
- (c) if so, whether the Government proposes to increase expenditure on health and education to provide a boost to more new jobs as teachers and doctors, especially for women, and a greater supply of younger professionals and skilled workers; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof/facts thereof/corrective steps being taken while allocating the funds for various schemes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a) The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting NEET (UG) on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare since May 2019, as a uniform entrance - cum - eligibility test for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, etc.) in all medical institutions across the country, as per the norms set out in relevant Graduate Medical Regulations of MCI (which has been replaced by NMC w.e.f. 24.09.2020).

In 2022, 17,64,571 candidates appeared in the NEET (UG) examination. The National Medical Commission has informed that out of total admission of 95,313 students in Medical Colleges in MBBS in India during 2022-23,admission in Government Medical Colleges was 48,929, which is 2.77% of appeared candidates.

The number of MBBS seats in 2013-14 was 51,348 (24,468 in Government Medical Colleges and 26,880 in Private Medical Colleges).For the year 2023-24, the number of MBBS seats in Government Medical Colleges have been increased to 56,283 seats and in Private Medical Colleges to 51,665 seats, making a total of 1,07,948 seats and an increase of 110% over 201314.

- (b) to (d) The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 announced by the Government on 29.07.2020 envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all, and thereby making India a global knowledge superpower. NEP has proposed revamping of all aspects of the education system including accessibility, equity, inclusivity and affordability. Therefore, NEP envisages learning opportunities for all. More learning opportunities among other aspects enhance employability, which opens doors to more jobs.

NEP 2020 envisions a substantial increase in public investment in education by both the Central Government and all State Governments.

The Central Government has increased its Budget allocation of Ministry of Education (MoE) from Rs. 93,224.31 crore for the year 2021-22 to Rs. 1,04,277.72 crore for the year 2022-23 and to Rs. 1,12,899.47 crore for the year 2023-24.

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