Centrally Sponsored Educational Schemes for Improvement of Higher Education in India
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Education being in the concurrent list, creation of new institutions is the responsibility of both Central and State Government. However, recognising the need for central support by strategically funding the State Higher Educational Institutions, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is being implemented by Ministry of Education with the aim of promoting access, equity and quality. In order to be eligible for funding under RUSA, States have to fulfil certain prerequisites, which include the academic, administrative and governance reforms. States are encouraged to undertake strategic thinking and planning keeping future needs of the higher education in mind. The scheme aims to improve the quality of State Universities and colleges and enhance their existing capacities so that they become dynamic, demand-driven, quality conscious, efficient and forward looking and responsive to rapid economic and technological developments occurring at the local, State, national and international levels.
Under RUSA, State Higher Educational Institutions are supported under various components such as creation of Universities by way of up-gradation of existing autonomous colleges, creation of Universities by conversion of colleges in a cluster, Infrastructure Grants to Universities, Infrastructure Grants to Colleges, upgradation of existing degree colleges into Model Degree colleges, etc. State-wise/Year -wise targets are not fixed under the Scheme.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
