The Ministry of Education has approved Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)’s scheme to continue until 2026, officials said Friday.
RUSA is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to fund the state’s universities and colleges to achieve the goals of equity, access, and excellence.
The proposal entails an expense of Rs 12,929.16 crore, of which the central share is Rs 8,120.97 crores and the state share is Rs 4,808.19 crores. The aim is to support approximately 1,600 projects in the new phase of the scheme.
“The new phase of RUSA targets to reach the unserved, deprived areas, remote and rural areas, difficult geographic areas, ambitious districts, tier-2 cities, areas with low GER, to target the most deprived areas and SEDGs (Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups),’ said a senior ministry official.
“The new phase of the scheme is designed to implement some of the recommendations and objectives of the new education policy, which proposes some major changes to the current higher education system to renew and revitalize it to deliver quality higher education , with equality and inclusion,” the official added.
In the new phase of the scheme, state governments will be supported for gender inclusion, equality initiatives, ICT, improving employability through vocational training and upgrading skills.
“States will also be supported in setting up new model colleges. State universities will be supported for multidisciplinary education and research,” the official said.
“Grants will be provided to strengthen both accredited and unaccredited universities and colleges to undertake various activities, including teaching Indian languages,” the official added.
