evidence: The Ministry of Education has two departments: (i) the Department of School Education and Literacy, and (ii) the Department of Higher Education. The Department of School Education is responsible for schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Navodaya Vidyalayas. It also funds certain schemes implemented by states such as Samagra Shiksha, which seeks to improve access to schools and overall learning outcomes, and the National Mid-Day Meal Programme. The Department of Higher Education funds central universities, IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIMs, and Schools of Planning and Architecture, among others. It also funds the higher education regulators, UGC and AICTE. The Department also supports research and innovation in higher education, and provides scholarships for higher education. This note examines the allocation to the Ministry in 2023-24, and overall financing issues in the education sector. [...] Note: Autonomous bodies include those under the Department of School Education - Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. [...] Note: * includes Kendriya Vidyalas, Navoldaya Vidyalayas, and CBSE; ** includes the Mid-day Meal Scheme; ***is allocated towards 15,000 schools of excellence under the NEP.