<h1>Pandemic Boosts Government Spending: Health Surges 73%, Education Up 20%, Rural Shift to Public Schools Observed.</h1> The government's spending on social services increased significantly during the pandemic, with a 9.8% rise in allocation for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Health sector expenditure surged by 73%, while education saw a 20% increase. Initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission provided tap water to over 8 lakh schools. The Economic Survey noted a decline in school dropout rates and an improvement in Gross Enrolment Ratio. The pandemic prompted a shift from private to government schools in rural areas. The government implemented measures such as textbook distribution and digital learning to mitigate the pandemic's impact on education.