Parliament Question: Expected Years of Schooling

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3565 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Expected Years of Schooling

3565. Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that Expected Years of Schooling in the Russia is 15 years whereas the expected years of schooling in India is 13.37 years, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also true that labour productivity in the Russia is US $44.31 per hour whereas labour productivity in India is just US$10.68;

(c) if so, the details of the efforts made by the Government to increase the expected years of schooling and labour productivity and by when India is going to touch Russia figures in years of schooling and labour productivity; and

(d) expected increase in investment in education, especially school education combined with job- oriented skilling, to push productivity into human capital for faster economic growth? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Enhancement of expected years of schooling, labour productivity and skills of workers is continuous and dynamic process. The Government recognizes that improving learning outcomes, reducing school dropouts and addressing curriculum gaps are important for enhancing employability and workforce readiness. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisages a holistic transformation of the education system through foundational literacy and numeracy, competency-based learning, experiential education, multidisciplinary learning and greater integration of Skill Education to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and competencies required for higher education, employment and lifelong learning.

At the school level, Skill Education has been integrated as a regular component of education under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha. NSQF-aligned skill courses are offered to students of Classes IX-XII to enhance employability skills including communication, self-management, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), entrepreneurship and green skills. In line with NEP 2020, students of Classes VI-VIII are provided pre-vocational exposure through Bagless Days, internships with local vocational experts and experiential learning. The Government has also promoted digital learning through platforms such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA and Virtual Skill Laboratories, while PM SHRI Schools emphasize experiential learning, digital infrastructure and skill development.

Also, Central Government assist States and UTs through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha and hot cooked meal provided from Balvatika to class 8 under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Yojna. Financial assistance/grant is also provided to the States and UTs for various activities to reduce dropout and increase enrolment in Government schools, which include opening/strengthening of new schools up to Senior Secondary level, strengthening school infrastructure, setting up and up gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) upto class 12, setting up of residential schools/hostels named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, hostels under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), transport allowance, undertaking enrolment drives, seasonal hostels/residential camps, provision of vocational education and ICT facilities in schools, providing free text books and free uniform, transport/escort facility, etc.The budget allocation for Ministry of Education in Union Budget of the country from the year 2022- 23 to 2026-27 is as under:

M/o Education Budget (Rs.in Crore) Department of School Department of Higher Financial M/o Education Budget Education & Literacy Education Year Estimates outlay Budget Estimates Outlay Budget Estimates Outlay 2022-23 63449 40828 104278 2023-24 68805 44095 112899 2024-25 73498 47620 121118 2025-26 78572 50077 128649 2026-27 83562 55727 139289

Source: Union Budget documents ******