Question : Social Science Research

(a) Whether the Government has worked out the framework of the Revitalising Infrastructure
and Systems in Education (RISE) initiative;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has plans to give special encouragement to Social Science Research
as a part of the ‘research promotion’ component of the initiative;
(d) if so, whether the Government finds it feasible as a part of this initiative, to promote
undergraduate research through setting up of undergraduate research monitoring committees for
all Centrally Funded Institutions offering professional and general courses; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) & (b): The Government has approved “Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in
Education by 2022”, as per which the scope of institutions to be funded through Higher
Education Financing Agency (HEFA) has been enlarged to encompass School Education and
Medical Education institutions, apart from Higher Education. The total authorized equity capital
of HEFA has been raised to Rs.10,000 crore, with the facility to leverage additional resources
from the market, based on requirement. A total Government equity of Rs. 6,000 Crore, has been
approved. All funds for educational infrastructure in centrally funded educational institutions
will henceforth be in the form of ten year loans through HEFA to the institution, the interest
liability of which would be borne by the Government. The principal repayment would be
undertaken by the institutions in part or full depending on their age profile and financial
capability. For new institutions and those which have limited internal fund generating capacity,
the entire principal and interest repayment would be undertaken by the Government. There is an
additional window of financing for school and medical education institutions where the
sponsoring Department would undertake to repay the principal and interest to HEFA. So far,
HEFA has approved projects of Rs. 24430 Crore with total loan amount of Rs. 12307 Crore.
(c) to (e): The reply is at Annexure.
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