The allocation for education in Budget 2008-2009, amounts to 0.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (including the contribution by the states, this goes up to 3.57% of GDP) and by the end of the eleventh five-year Plan, it is expected to increase to 6% of the GDP (this would include contribution by the states).
Meanwhile, as far as enrolment in higher education is concerned, the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education is expected to increase to 15% by the end of the XIth Plan, from the current GER of 10%, according to a senior government official. The government will also establish 16 central varsities in the hitherto uncovered states. Despite this, the overall allocation for the higher education sector is only 0.37% of GDP according to Ernst & Young-EDGE 2008 report on 'Globalising higher education in India,' whereas Brazil spends 0.91% of its GDP, Russia
