One person, from birth to age 80
Illustrative range in constant 2025–26 rupees. These are planning assumptions, not India's actual minimum, maximum or average lifetime cost. Real bills can be lower or far higher.
| Life stage | Lower illustration | Higher illustration | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth-related medical care | ₹10,000 | ₹1,00,000 | One-time assumption |
| School education | ₹40,082 | ₹3,50,028 | 14 × ₹2,863 / ₹25,002 |
| College education | ₹90,000 | ₹6,00,000 | 3 × ₹30,000 / 4 × ₹1,50,000 |
| Routine healthcare: ages 0–17 | ₹36,000 | ₹1,08,000 | 18 × ₹2,000 / ₹6,000 |
| Routine healthcare: ages 18–59 | ₹2,10,000 | ₹6,30,000 | 42 × ₹5,000 / ₹15,000 |
| Routine healthcare: ages 60–79 | ₹3,00,000 | ₹12,00,000 | 20 × ₹15,000 / ₹60,000 |
| Separate major-treatment provision | ₹50,000 | ₹5,00,000 | One-time assumption |
| Total per person | ₹7,36,082 | ₹34,88,028 | Sum of the rows above |
Only school inputs use official survey averages: government ₹2,863 and non-government ₹25,002 per student in CMS Education 2025. Neither is a minimum or maximum. All other amounts are illustrative assumptions. No inflation, lost wages, insurance premiums, accommodation or exceptional high-cost degrees/treatments are included. Age 80 is a modelling horizon, not an Indian life-expectancy estimate.
School expenditure source ↗Tax depends on income, not your job title
Illustrative salary tax for resident individuals under the new regime, FY 2026–27: ordinary income only, ₹75,000 salary deduction and 4% cess. CTC is not taxable salary. Special-rate income, old-regime deductions and surcharge cases need a separate calculation.
| Annual salary before standard deduction | Illustrative annual income tax |
|---|---|
| ₹3,00,000 | ₹0 |
| ₹6,00,000 | ₹0 |
| ₹12,00,000 | ₹0 |
| ₹12,75,000 | ₹0 |
| ₹18,00,000 | ₹1,50,800 |
| ₹24,00,000 | ₹2,92,500 |
| ₹30,00,000 | ₹4,75,800 |
For self-employed people, income tax generally uses taxable profit, not sales. The salary deduction is not available on business profit. Low or zero income tax does not mean a person pays no indirect taxes.
Official tax rates and rebate ↗Tax inside an everyday bill
A ₹1,180 tax-inclusive bill at 18% contains ₹180 GST, not ₹212.40. Formula: billed amount × rate ÷ (100 + rate). Not every item has GST: some supplies are exempt or nil-rated, and other taxes may apply. Always read the actual bill.
A sample monthly basket of ₹10,000 billed at 5% plus ₹5,000 billed at 18% contains about ₹1,239 GST, or ₹14,867 over 12 identical months. These are assumed receipts, not official tax rates for groceries or every household.
Check official GST classifications ↗Lower bills for families still require public funding
If a public service covered every expense in the lifetime illustration, gross household bills avoided would be about ₹7.36–₹34.88 lakh per person. This is an upper coverage scenario, not a promised entitlement or net saving.
Taxes, government costs, quality, waiting times, travel and services not covered all matter. Net savings cannot be honestly calculated without a funded policy. Public education and healthcare also need teachers, clinicians, buildings, medicines and accountability.
Two foundations. Many possible benefits.
Quality education
Learning, skills and civic understanding
Quality healthcare
Prevention, timely care and healthier days
Fewer barriers
More ability to study, work and care for others
Stronger families
Less financial stress and more time together
Better opportunities
Skills, participation and productive work
Shared responsibility
Respect, civic learning and cooperation
A fairer future
Build it together with good institutions and accountable leadership
These are possible pathways, not guaranteed outcomes. Education and health do not automatically make anyone disciplined or ethical, eliminate crime, or make every family happy. Rights, fair institutions and individual choices matter too.
Demand better spending, with evidence
Ask what a scheme costs, who benefits, whether it works and what audits found. Food security, disability support and pensions can complement education and health. A scheme is not wasteful merely because it is free.
A documented example, not a blanket accusation
CAG PMKVY 20/2025: ₹12.16 crore interest recovered; ₹24.13 crore administrative overcharge reported (para 4.3.1). Read government responses.
Recovered money is not a new recurring budget. Audit findings are not automatically proven fraud or cash available to fund universal services. Fix documented leakage while protecting essential support.
Read the CAG report and responses ↗Share an issue. Protect people's privacy.
Post an education or healthcare issue →Sources checked 14 November 2026. Public-service coverage is a policy proposal, not a statement of current legal rights. Figures are illustrative and not personal tax advice.