The Union Budget 2024-25 carves a path for design education in India, marked by promises and missed opportunities. One must view the current budget through an optimistic lens, recognising it as an opportunity to advocate for the strategic inclusion of design education within future initiatives. In this article Dr Jitin Chadha, Founder & CEO of the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), talks about the implications of the Union Budget 2024-25 for design education in India.
The Union Budget 2024-25 offers a blend of promise and missed opportunities for design education in India. Dr Jitin Chadha, Founder & CEO of the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), shares his insights on the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the readers of Machine Maker. Dr Chadha discusses the budget’s implications for design education in India, highlighting both its promise and the areas where it falls short. His perspectives shed light on how the budget can pave the way for a more robust design education framework in the country.
Skill Development and Financial Support
“The budget’s focus on skill development presents a positive opportunity for India’s workforce by proposing to equip over 20 lakh youths with industry-relevant skills over a five-year period,” says Dr Chadha. The introduction of a revised Model Skill Loan scheme offering up to ₹10 lakhs for students choosing domestic institutions can make the education sector equitable and inclusive. However, for design students, its true success hinges on the feasibility of catering to the unique requirements of design education.
Another promising initiative is the year-long internship programme with 500 companies for over one crore youth, aged between 21 and 24, presenting a potential avenue for design students. While the core focus of the initiative isn’t specifically on the design industry, its potential to bridge the gap between theoretical education and real-world industry experience remains noteworthy.
Dr Jitin Chadha elaborates, “Design students with strong portfolios and demonstrably transferable skills, such as user research, problem-solving, and visual communication, could position themselves competitively for internship placements within relevant participating companies. Additionally, the financial support offered, including a monthly stipend and additional grant, can incentivize participation. This aligns with the educational philosophies of the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), which aims to equip students with ‘industry-ready’ skills.”
Research and Development (R&D)
The current budget also encourages private sector participation in research and development (R&D) at a commercial scale. This initiative falls under the National Research Fund, aligning with the earlier announcement in the interim budget. The proposed financing pool of ₹1 lakh crore signifies a commitment to cultivating a robust innovation ecosystem.
Dr Jitin Chadha notes, “The potential for a dedicated design research fund, as advocated by many stakeholders, remains a focus for future exploration. Strategically targeted research funding within emerging design fields is crucial. Data from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) cites that national R&D spending currently sits at only 0.64% of GDP, a figure significantly lower than global leaders such as China and the USA in innovation. To maintain its competitive edge in the global innovation race, a strategic increase in R&D expenditure is necessary. Ideally, this allocation should reach at least 2% of GDP within the next 4-5 years. Such funding should align with government initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ to ensure a synergistic relationship between design innovation and national economic goals.”
Equipping universities to foster stronger industry-academia collaborations is also instrumental in achieving this objective. WIPO itself emphasizes the importance of strengthening the link between higher education, industry, and research. While Indian institutions demonstrably develop technologies, the rate of transformation from lab settings to practical societal applications remains low.
“A robust design education system, emphasizing not just technical skills but also design thinking, user-centricity, and problem-solving, can bridge the gap between R&D and real-world applications. By fostering design education that aligns with innovation, India can ensure that its burgeoning patent filings translate into tangible societal benefits,” says Dr Chadha.
Design Education and Digital Transformation
The 2024 Union Budget prioritizes technology adoption in India’s digital transformation, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023’s focus on holistic and experiential learning. However, a critical accessibility gap hinders Indian design education. A nuanced strategy with concrete plans is needed to address the socio-economic divide and ensure equitable access to quality education, leading to demonstrably improved learning outcomes and preparing design students for the creative economy.
Despite acknowledging the need for improved educational infrastructure and technology, the budget lacks a specific focus on design education. To bridge this gap and fulfill the mandates of NEP 2020 and NCF 2023, we propose targeted investments in design-specific infrastructure, including online resources, design software licenses, and digital libraries tailored to design education curriculums. Additionally, we also propose targeted funding for the integration of cutting-edge pedagogical tools that encompass immersive learning experiences, virtual reality applications, and artificial intelligence tools. These tools can complement traditional methods, fostering a more dynamic learning environment for future design professionals.
Dr Jitin Chadha concludes, “The Union Budget 2024-25 offers a measured response to the needs of design education in India. The focus on skill development and digital transformation aligns with the evolving demands of the creative economy. However, to truly empower a new generation of design professionals and elevate the nation’s design sector to global leadership, a multifaceted approach—with dedicated funding, research initiatives, and a commitment to design-centric solutions tailored to national priorities—is paramount. It is only then that these design professionals, who will be instrumental in driving the Indian creative economy forward and translating design principles into tangible solutions for nation-building, can emerge.”
