In February 2023, Uttar Pradesh secured ₹740 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) programme.

Launched:

1. 2013: Launched as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
2. Now, in the light of the National Education Policy, RUSA has been renamed as PM-USHA in June 2023.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education.

Type of scheme: Centrally Sponsored scheme

Beneficiaries: Rs 100-crore grant includes six universities in Uttar Pradesh, four in Maharashtra, three in Madhya Pradesh, two each in Gujarat and Karnataka, and one each in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Funding:

1. 90:10 ratio for certain states and 60:40 for others,
2. UTs without a Legislature receive 100% central funding.

vision: To attain higher levels of access, equity, and excellence in the State higher education system with greater efficiency, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.

Objective: To improve the overall quality of existing state higher educational institutions by ensuring their conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adoption of accreditation as a quality assurance framework.

Key Features:

1. Rs 100 crore support to each of 35 state universities for multidisciplinary education and research (MERU Transformation
2. Establishment of Model Degree Colleges
3. Grants for strengthening universities
4. Focus on remote, LWE-affected, Aspirational, and low Gross Enrollment Ratio regions
5. Aid to state governments for gender inclusion, equity, and ICT-based employability skills.

 

Components of PM-USHA:

1. Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU)
2. Grants to Strengthen Universities (Accredited & Unaccredited Universities)
3. Grants to Strengthen Colleges (Accredited & Unaccredited Colleges)
4. New Model Degree Colleges
5. Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives
6. MMER (Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research) Grants

Eligibility criteria to get PM-USHA funding:

1. The funds are eligible for colleges of any discipline under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act. At least 10 years of active administration is required.
2. The colleges must have a grade A of NAAC accreditation or a good NBA score.

Significance

1. To improve the quality of higher education.
2. Enhancing Employability through Multidisciplinarity.
3. Promote the inclusion of women, minorities, SC/ST/OBCs, and special-abled persons in higher education.

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