Question : Universities and Colleges

(a) whether the Government is considering to set up universities/colleges equivalent
to the standards of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs) to encourage the girl child;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is also considering to increase the scholarship amounts
given to the girl child belonging to poor and weaker sections of society;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of amount released for the scholarship during the last three years and
the current year, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. While there is no such specific proposal, the Central
Government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are constantly
endeavouring to improve the standards of Universities and Colleges, including
Women Universities and Colleges. The list of UGC schemes for improving quality in
Universities and Colleges is at www.ugc.ac.in/page/XII-Plan-Guidelines.aspx.
(c) to (e): The Ministry is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship
for College and University Students wherein 50% scholarship is earmarked for girls.
The guidelines of the scheme are at http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files
/mhrd/files/upload_document/Guidelines_CSS_Scholarship.pdf . At present there
is no proposal to increase the scholarship amount under this scheme. The details of
amount released for the scholarship during the last three years and the current year,
State/UT-wise is at Annexure -I.
Further, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that it has
introduced the Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Fellowship for Research in
Social Sciences in the year 2014-2015 to provide an opportunity to single girl child
for research in social sciences for pursuing Ph.D with an aim to compensate direct
costs of higher education specially for such girls who happen to be the only girl child
in their family. The scheme has been implemented from 2015-16 onwards. The
details of above scholarship for 2015-16 and for the current year State/UT-wise is at
Annexure-II.
The UGC has increased the fellowship/scholarship amounts based on
recommendations of the Expert Committee to bring parity amongst the schemes
with effect from 1st December, 2014. The public notice in this regard is available at
http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/6042860_Revised-rates-of-Fellowships.pdf .
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