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Rajasthan’s ₹68,989 Crore Education Budget, Yet 611 Schools Lack Buildings
Rajasthan plans to spend a lot of money on education in 2026–27.
However, 611 government schools there still do not have buildings.
Thousands of other schools have buildings that need major repairs.
The education budget also pays for teachers, scholarships, meals and other programs, not only construction.
Some money for new buildings is waiting for approval from the Union Ministry of Education.
The state says it has set aside money for repairs and construction.
Bihar has a similar problem with schools lacking their own buildings.
This shows that spending money is not enough unless it results in safe schools for children.
Rajasthan’s 2026–27 education, sports, arts and culture allocation is ₹68,989 crore, or 17.1% of total expenditure.
UDISE+ 2025–26 data shows 611 Rajasthan government schools functioning without buildings.
A state survey identified 3,768 dilapidated school buildings, while 41,178 of 45,365 government schools need major repairs.
Rajasthan has allocated ₹550 crore for repairs and ₹450 crore for buildings in 2026–27, with larger infrastructure funding planned from multiple sources.
Bihar also reported thousands of schools without their own buildings, showing that education spending does not automatically produce safe infrastructure.
- Who
- Rajasthan’s government schools, students, state officials and the Union Ministry of Education are involved; Bihar’s government schools face a similar issue.
- What
- UDISE+ data reports 611 Rajasthan government schools operating without buildings, alongside widespread repair needs and thousands of dilapidated structures.
- Where
- Rajasthan, with comparable school-building concerns also reported across Bihar.
- When
- The figures concern 2025–26 data and the 2026–27 budget; the Rajasthan Assembly disclosures were reported in January 2026.
- Why
- The broad education budget includes recurring expenses as well as infrastructure, while some construction funding requires central approval and Rajasthan has underspent its capital allocations.
Government Response
Infrastructure Concerns
Budget and planned action
Government Response
The Rajasthan government says it is continuously improving school buildings, repairs, classrooms, smart classes and other facilities, and has allocated funds for repairs and new construction.
Infrastructure Concerns
Critics point to the 611 schools without buildings, 3,768 dilapidated buildings and 41,178 schools needing major repairs as evidence that allocations have not yet produced adequate infrastructure.
Funding responsibility
Government Response
The state has submitted ₹1,998.24 crore in construction proposals, but new construction under Samagra Shiksha requires approval from the centrally chaired Project Approval Board.
Infrastructure Concerns
Pending approvals leave schools without timely construction, while the article notes that Rajasthan’s actual capital outlay was below budget estimates in 2024–25 and 2025–26.
Budget performance
Government Response
Rajasthan’s education allocation is higher than the average share allocated by states in 2025–26, and the state has announced ₹12,500 crore over five years for broader infrastructure and maintenance.
Infrastructure Concerns
A large overall education budget cannot be treated as a construction budget because it also covers salaries, scholarships, higher education, meals and school programs; outcomes such as functional electricity remain weaker than in some states.
Key facts
- Rajasthan education allocation
- ₹68,989 crore for 2026–27, equal to 17.1% of total expenditure.
- Schools without buildings
- 611 Rajasthan government schools, according to UDISE+ 2025–26.
- Dilapidated buildings
- 3,768 government school buildings were identified; 2,558 were formally declared dilapidated and 1,210 awaited declaration.
- Major repair needs
- 41,178 of Rajasthan’s 45,365 government schools were flagged as needing major repairs.
- Pending construction proposals
- Proposals worth ₹1,998.24 crore for construction at 1,680 dilapidated schools were awaiting Union Ministry of Education approval.
- 2026–27 infrastructure provisions
- ₹550 crore was budgeted for repairs and renovation, and ₹450 crore for construction at schools without buildings or operating in dilapidated structures.
- Bihar comparison
- Bihar reported 2,294 primary and middle schools, 703 high schools and 3,000 higher secondary schools without their own buildings across 26 districts.
Sources
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