No University Planned for Chenab Region, Centre Says | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Union Government has said there is no specific proposal for establishing a new multi-disciplinary university in the Chenab region of Jammu and Kashmir, even as concerns were raised about the absence of a full-fledged university in the area comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts.

Responding to a question by Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the Centre supports higher education in states and Union Territories primarily through centrally sponsored schemes rather than directly setting up universities.

The minister said higher education is a subject in the Concurrent List, meaning both the Centre and the Union Territory government share responsibility for improving access and quality.

According to the ministry, the Centre is implementing the scheme Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), launched in June 2023 as the third phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), with an outlay of Rs 12,926.10 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.

The scheme aims to strengthen higher education institutions, particularly in educationally underserved and remote regions, by supporting infrastructure, academic reforms and institutional development. Under PM-USHA, priority is given to “focus districts” identified by states or Union Territories based on factors such as low enrolment, gender disparity and the presence of border or aspirational districts.

The ministry informed the House that 613 projects have been approved across the country under PM-USHA with central assistance of Rs 8,168.51 crore.

In Jammu and Kashmir, 74 projects worth Rs 706.52 crore have been approved since the inception of the scheme, the government said. These include Rs 100 crore support to the University of Jammu under the quality and excellence component of RUSA, and Rs 20 crore each to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University under the Grants to Strengthen Universities component of PM-USHA.

The ministry said that under components such as Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) and Grants to Strengthen Universities, institutions are encouraged to become multidisciplinary and adopt reforms aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.

These reforms include implementing the National Credit Framework, expanding elective course systems, adopting the Academic Bank of Credits, offering online learning through SWAYAM and other platforms, introducing courses in Indian languages, integrating Indian knowledge systems into curricula, and promoting vocational training and internships.

However, the ministry clarified that PM-USHA does not include a component specifically meant for establishing new universities.

It added that during the earlier phase of RUSA, Rs 12 crore was sanctioned for setting up a New Model Degree College in Kishtwar, while seven projects worth Rs 34.94 crore were approved in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts under various components such as gender inclusion initiatives, strengthening of colleges and development of model degree colleges.

The government said proposals from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are examined through the Project Approval Board mechanism, which includes the UT’s Secretary for Higher Education as a member.