Which of the following is correct about government expenditure on elementary and tertiary education in India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Tertiary education gets the least share of total education expenditure.
Elementary education takes the major share of education spending. Tertiary (higher) education gets the least, though spending per student is higher there.
Option (1) The government spends more on tertiary education. — Incorrect. On an average it spends less on tertiary education.
Option (2) Tertiary education receives the highest share of total education expenditure. — Incorrect. The highest share goes to elementary education.
Option (3) Tertiary education gets the least share of total education expenditure. — Correct. Colleges, polytechnics and universities get the smallest share.
Option (4) Expenditure per student in tertiary education is lower than that in elementary education. — Incorrect. Expenditure per student is higher in tertiary education.
NCERT (2026-27): “Growth in Government Expenditure on Education: … Elementary education takes a major share of total education expenditure and the share of the higher/tertiary education (institutions of higher learning like colleges, polytechnics and universities) is the least. Though, on an average, the government spends less on tertiary education, ‘expenditure per student’ in tertiary education is higher than that of elementary. …” |