Finance Minister announces free education up to degree level in the state budget. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Budget has written a new chapter in Kerala’s education sector. Finance Minister KN Balagopal announced that free education, currently available up to Plus Two, will now be extended to the degree level. ₹14,500 crore has been allocated for welfare pensions, while ₹400 crore has been set aside for the Connect Scholarship. Despite what he described as neglect by the Centre, the state has managed to stay afloat, he said.