Lok Sabha Question No. 3274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Educational Infrastructure in Noth-Eastern States
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Tapir Gao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3274 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2021

## Educational Infrastructure in North-Eastern States

3274. SHRI TAPIR GAO:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  plan  for  improving  the  quality  of education and providing better infrastructure in the North-Eastern States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  also  formulating  any  plan  to  promote  technical education in the North-Eastern States; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  for  this purpose?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  &  (b): Yes,  Sir. University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  is  implementing  schemes, awards,  fellowships,  chairs  and  programmes  under  which  financial  assistance  is provided to institutions of higher education as well as faculty members working  in North Eastern  States  to  undertake  quality  research  covering  areas  of  knowledge  across disciplines. Some of the initiatives taken for improving quality of higher education are (i) Choice Based Credit System (CBCS); (ii) Universities with Potential for Excellence; (iii) Centre  with  Potential  for  Excellence  in  particular  area;  (iv)  Consortium  for  Academic Research  and  Ethics(CARE)  (v)  Basic  Science  Research  (vi)  Scheme  for  Transdisciplinary  Research  for  India's  Developing  Economy  (STRIDE)  (vii)  Deen  Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Kaushal Kendras (viii) Scholarship Scheme (ISHAN UDAY) for NorthEastern  Region;  (ix)  New  Methodology  of  Grading  by  NAAC  (x)  UGC  (Minimum Standards  and  Procedure  for  award  of  M.Phil/Ph.D  Degree)  Regulations,  2016;  (xi) UGC (Credit  Framework  for  Online  Learning  Courses  through  SWAYAM)  Regulation, 2016.

(c) & (d): All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has taken several steps over the years for framing appropriate policies on technical education needed to design and implement various schemes for educational advancement and achieving the objective of creating favorable environment to ensure speedy socio-economic development in North East States. This includes equipping all necessary  infrastructure upgradation  of colleges,  special  coaching,  educational  concessions,  better  teaching  learning  material and  infrastructure  for  North  East  region  students.  Some  of  the  Schemes  are  (i) Research Promotion Scheme  for North East Region; (ii) Short Term Training Programme  for  NER;  (iii)  Faculty  Development  Programme  for  NER;  (iv)  Scheme  of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI); (v) Post Graduate Scholarship  Scheme;  (vi)  Doctoral  Fellowship;  (vii)  Pragati  Scholarship  Scheme;  (viii) Saksham  Scholarship  Scheme;  (ix)  Campus  Accommodation  &  Facilities  Enhancing Social  Experience;  (x)  Grant  for  Augmenting  Infrastructure  in  NER;  (xi)  Scheme  for Promoting  Interests,  Creativity  and  Ethics  among  Students;  (xii)  Grant  for  Organizing Conference; (xiii) Establishment of Idea Development, Evaluation & Application Laboratory in Institutions; and (xiv) E-Shodh Sindhu (Subscription to e-Journals).