(a) whether there is any proposal to establish new Universities in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any scheme to improve the quality of Higher Education;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the measures being taken by the Government to increase the standard of education in Jammu-Kashmir?
MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’)
(a) to (e) Establishment of a Central University is ongoing process. Presently, three proposals have been considered to establish new Central Universities in the Country namely the Central Tribal University in Telangana; Central University in Bhagalpur, Bihar and Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The Government has launched various schemes and initiatives to improve the quality of Higher Education in the country such as Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE). In addition, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have also launched different schemes like STRIDE, CARE, NME-ICT for improvement of quality and development of faculty and students. UGC framed ‘Quality Mandate’ aims at promoting better employment, socially productive activities, training students in essential and soft skills, orientation of teachers and accreditation of institutions.
Institutions of higher education established in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir including Central University of Jammu and Central University of Kashmir fulfil the aspiration of higher education in the region. All such initiatives of higher education help in increasing the standard of education in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir as well. The National Education Policy, 2020 announced by the Government has laid special emphasis on quality higher education in the country.
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