Between 2015 and 2024, India consistently allocated 4.1% to 4.6% of its GDP to education, aligning with the global targets set by UNESCO’s ‘Education 2030 Framework for Action,’ which recommends countries allocate 4-6% of GDP for education. A new series of reports from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics on global education spending reveals that India’s government expenditure on education during this period ranged between 13.5% and 17.2% of its total public spending. This meets the countries’ Education 2030 goal of 15-20% of public funds to education.
India’s sustained investment in education exceeds that of many of its Central and Southern Asian neighbors, as the region grapples with a global trend of declining average education spending. The report highlights that while nations like Nepal and Bhutan allocate a similar 4-6% of GDP, countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan lag in education funding.
In 2022, India’s education expenditure was only surpassed in the region by Bhutan (7.5%), Kazakhstan (7.2%), Maldives (4.7%), Tajikistan (5.7%), and Uzbekistan (5.2%). India’s spending is also notably higher than other Asian giants like China and Japan.
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In a concerning development, education spending has declined globally, dropping from 13.2% in 2010 to 12.5% in 2020, with a significant decrease following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these global trends, India’s investment in education remains stable, reinforcing its commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on providing inclusive, equitable, and quality education.
