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Gauhati University VC Praises Union Budget's Vision for Higher Education Reform

Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta has described the Union Budget 2026-27 as a progressive blueprint for transforming India's higher education sector. He welcomed key proposals including the development of university townships along industrial corridors to boost academia-industry collaboration. The VC also praised the budget's focus on inclusivity, notably the plan to establish girls' hostels in every district to support women in STEM education. Furthermore, he lauded investments in advanced telescope infrastructure to strengthen India's capabilities in frontier sciences like astrophysics.

Key Points: Union Budget Can Reshape Higher Education: Gauhati University VC

  • Emphasis on learning outcomes & research
  • University townships near industrial corridors
  • Girls' hostels in every district for STEM access
  • Investments in astrophysics telescope infrastructure
2 min read

Union Budget has potential to reshape higher education: Gauhati University V-C

Gauhati University VC Nani Gopal Mahanta calls the Union Budget 2026-27 a progressive roadmap for higher education, research, and inclusivity.

"By empowering institutions, enabling students and nurturing research and innovation, the Budget lays a strong foundation for India's educational and national development journey. - Nani Gopal Mahanta"

Guwahati, Feb 1

Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta, on Sunday, described the Union Budget 2026-2027 as a progressive and future-oriented roadmap that has the potential to reshape India's higher education landscape in alignment with the national vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.

Reacting to the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Mahanta said the government's renewed thrust on Viksit Shiksha clearly recognises education as a cornerstone of national progress.

He noted that the emphasis on improving learning outcomes, strengthening research ecosystems and fostering innovation across universities would play a decisive role in building globally competitive institutions.

The Vice-Chancellor particularly welcomed the proposal to develop university townships along major industrial and logistics corridors, saying that the initiative would significantly enhance collaboration between academia and industry.

According to Mahanta, such integrated ecosystems would encourage applied research, facilitate knowledge exchange, and better align academic programmes with evolving industry requirements, ultimately improving graduate employability.

Mahanta also praised the Union Budget's strong focus on inclusivity, highlighting the proposal to establish girls' hostels in every district.

He said the move would help overcome persistent barriers related to access, safety and accommodation faced by women students, especially those pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The initiative, he added, would be a major step towards achieving gender equity in the higher education sector.

Welcoming the Budget's focus on frontier science, the Vice-Chancellor lauded the proposed investments in advanced telescope infrastructure for research in astrophysics and astronomy.

He said that such initiatives would not only strengthen India's scientific capabilities but also enhance the country's global standing in cutting-edge research domains, while inspiring young scholars to pursue advanced scientific inquiry.

Summing up his assessment, Mahanta said the Union Budget 2026 presents a comprehensive and forward-looking vision for higher education.

"By empowering institutions, enabling students and nurturing research and innovation, the Budget lays a strong foundation for India's educational and national development journey," he added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
University townships near industrial corridors sound promising on paper. But the real test will be execution. We need to ensure these collaborations lead to actual internships and job placements, not just MoU signings. Hoping for the best.
R
Rohit P
Investment in astrophysics telescopes is exciting! 🇮🇳 It puts India on the global science map. But I hope the budget also allocates sufficient funds for basic lab equipment in state universities. The gap between elite and ordinary colleges is still huge.
S
Sarah B
The emphasis on 'learning outcomes' is key. For too long, our system has focused on rote learning and degrees. Shifting to skill-based, practical education aligned with industry needs is crucial for Viksit Bharat. Good direction.
K
Karthik V
While the vision is forward-looking, I respectfully disagree with the VC's overwhelmingly positive assessment. The budget speech had very little detail on *how* these funds will reach universities in the Northeast or other remote areas. Implementation is everything.
M
Meera T
Glad to see a focus on research ecosystems. But we also need to retain our talented researchers by offering better pay and stable careers within India. Too many brilliant minds still go abroad due to lack of opportunities here.

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