MisleadingRahul Gandhichecked 30 Sept 2026“He claimed that the share of education in the Union Budget had decreased from 4.6% in 2014 to 2.6% in 2026, and alleged that funds meant for education were diverted to benefit certain business interests.”
The numerical half of the claim is broadly supported: the Education Ministry's share of the Union Budget did decline from about 4.6 per cent to roughly 2.5-2.6 per cent, though the 4.6 per cent baseline is 2013-14, not the 2014-15 budget year. However, the allegation that education funds were diverted to benefit certain business interests is not supported by any document in the record. The sources show a shift in allocation priorities — education's relative share fell while road transport's share grew — but this is a description of how the Union Budget was divided, not evidence that money meant for education was siphoned to businesses. The claim is therefore misleading because it attaches a corruption allegation to a factual decline in relative budget share without any supporting record.
What the evidence showsHide the evidence
What they said
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the share of education in the Union Budget decreased from 4.6% in 2014 to 2.6% in 2026, and alleged that education funds were diverted to benefit certain business interests.
thequint.com, checked 30 Sept 2026
What is actually true
Union Budget analyses put the Education Ministry's share at 4.6 per cent in 2013-14 and 2.5 per cent in 2025-26. The official 2026-27 Expenditure Budget shows the Ministry of Education at ₹1,39,289 crore out of a Union total of ₹53,47,315 crore, which works out to about 2.6 per cent. The same record explains that a Budget share can fall when education spending rises in rupee terms but total Union expenditure grows faster; it also shows the Road Transport and Highways Ministry's share grew from 1.8 per cent to 5.8 per cent over the same period, but no document shows funds earmarked for education being diverted.
- The share of the Ministry of Education in total Union expenditure fell from about 4.6 per cent in 2013-14 to 2.5 per cent in 2025-26. [2][3]
- The official 2026-27 Expenditure Budget shows Ministry of Education outlay of ₹1,39,289 crore against a grand total of ₹53,47,315 crore, a share of roughly 2.6 per cent. [6]
- A Budget share can fall even when education spending rises in rupee terms, if total Union expenditure grows faster; the record describes the decline as a question of relative priority, not diversion of funds. [1][2]
- While education's relative share declined, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' share rose from 1.8 per cent to 5.8 per cent over roughly the same 12-year period. [2][3]
[1] Public Education Financing: Reading the Union Budget Share Correctly ... — anantamias.com[2] Education ministry's share of the Union Budget has halved in 12 years — econiti.org[3] India's Education Budget Explained - IAS Current Affairs — iascurrentaffairs.com[6] PDF Expenditure Budget 2026-2027 — indiabudget.gov.in
The numerical half of the claim is broadly supported: the Education Ministry's share of the Union Budget did decline from about 4.6 per cent to roughly 2.5-2.6 per cent, though the 4.6 per cent baseline is 2013-14, not the 2014-15 budget year. However, the allegation that education funds were diverted to benefit certain business interests is not supported by any document in the record. The sources show a shift in allocation priorities — education's relative share fell while road transport's share grew — but this is a description of how the Union Budget was divided, not evidence that money meant for education was siphoned to businesses. The claim is therefore misleading because it attaches a corruption allegation to a factual decline in relative budget share without any supporting record.