Question : Funds for Higher Education

(a) whether the Government has reduced the budgetary allocation for higher and technical education during the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether there has been under utilization of funds allocated for the purpose during previous year;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the impact of reduction of budgetary allocations for higher and technical education during (2015-16) the current year; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to increase the budget allocation for higher education?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e): The Budget provision for the Department of Higher Education during 2015-16, which includes provisions for higher education & technical education also, is as follow:-
<pre>
Year Plan Non- Plan Total
2015-16 15855.26 11000.00 26855.26
</pre>

So far, there has been no reduction in budgetary allocation during the current year. The funds released vis-a-vis allocation during 2014-15 at RE stage are as follows:-
<pre>
Revised estimates Released % of Utilization
Plan 13000.00 12584.93 96.81%
Non- Plan 10700.00 10567.24 98.76%
</pre>
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