Govt. must increase spending on education: VIT Chancellor

Actor Karthi speaking at VIT STARS 2025 held at its Vellore campus on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: VENKATACHALAPATHY_C

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Both the Central and State governments should increase the total spending on education to facilitate the enrolment of more students in schools and colleges, said G. Viswanathan, founder and chancellor, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).

He was delivering the presidential address at STARS Day 2025 (Support The Advancement of Rural Students), organised by Universal Higher Education Trust of VIT at its campus here.

Mr. Viswanathan said lack of adequate spending on education restricted students, especially those in rural areas, from pursuing higher studies as only parents with substantial income could afford their children’s higher education. “In the 2025-26 Union Budget, only 2.5% of the GDP was allocated for education, despite a long-standing demand of 6%,” he said.

“Only around 28% of India’s total population pursue higher education as against over 60% in China,” he added.

According to him, while at present, per capita income in India stands at $2,700 as against China’s $13,100, in 1990, India was ahead of China by over $50. Over the years, India fell behind mainly due to poor fund allocation for education, he said.

Meanwhile, 1,014 students in Tamil Nadu have benefitted under the STARS scheme, with around ₹90 crore disbursed since its inception in 2008.

On the occasion, Mr. Viswanathan released VIT STARS magazine in the presence of actor Karthi, director T.J. Gnanavel, and VIT vice-presidents Sankar Viswanathan and Sekar Viswanathan.