Govt okays Rs 3,639-cr funds for 13 new Central varsities

New Delhi: In a major decision aimed at strengthening higher education system in the country, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday granted approval to an expenditure of over Rs 3,600 crore for setting up of 13 new central universities within the next 36 months.

The new Central universities were established under the Central Universities Act, 2009 in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

While one university each is to be set up in 11 of these states, Jammu and Kashmir will get two new central varsities.

"The Cabinet has given its approval for incurring an expenditure of Rs 3,639.32 crore for the 13 central universities for recurring cost and creation of necessary infrastructure for completion of the campuses. The work will be completed within 36 months," said Union Minister Piyush Goyal while addressing reporters at a press conference.

"The Cabinet has also given ex-post facto approval for Rs 1,474.65 crore being the amount spent over and above the earlier Cabinet approval of Rs 3,000 crore for these central universities," he added.

The minister said that the move will increase access to higher education and set exemplary standards for other universities to emulate and will help in minimising the regional imbalances in educational facilities.

The new Central universities that were established in 11 states under Central Universities Act, 2009 include Central University of South Bihar, Gaya (Bihar); Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh; Central University of Jammu, Jammu; Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi; Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar; Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga; Central University of Kerala, Kasargod; Central University of Orissa, Koraput; Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandersindri (Rajasthan); Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur; Central University of Gujarat (Gujarat) and Central University of Himachal Pradesh.

According to a senior official in HRD Ministry, the move would help in increasing access to higher education and set exemplary standards for other universities to emulate. "It will also help in minimising the regional imbalances in educational facilities," the official said.

Hailing the decision, experts have opined that extra financial support to educational institutes has always helped in the improvement of the quality of education in the country. "It was a much-needed step of the government as the paucity of funds has always delayed infrastructure development related works in the institutions," experts said.

Notably, the government had on Tuesday approved a proposal to extend the 7th pay commission recommendations to academic staff of government and aided technical institutions with granting of Rs 1,241 crore for the purpose.

"This will directly benefit a total of 29,264 teachers and other academic staff of state government funded institutes. Besides, about 3.5 lakh teachers and other academic staff of private colleges or institutions within the purview of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) will also benefit from the approval," Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had said while announcing the decision.