Resources for Education in India. NIEPA Occasional Paper 2.

The primary objective of this study was to analyze the financial implications of achieving the target of universalization of elementary education in India by 1990. The study first examines the general allocation pattern of resources for Indian education. An analysis of the intra-sectoral allocation among different levels of the educational sector shows a consistent trend of shifting the emphasis from elementary education to other educational levels, especially higher education. An analysis of elementary education in terms of enrollment in different states in the country for the past decades shows that if the past trends guide the future the universalization of elementary education will not be reached by 1990. The resources allocated for education have been grossly inadequate. The required growth rates for each state and their financial implications for the 1980's are estimated. Although finances alone will not ensure universalization of elementary education, more money is a necessary condition to achieve the goal. At least seven percent of Gross National Product should be allocated for education by 1989-90 to realize modest targets in education. (RM)