Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Model Degree Colleges in Educationally Backward Districts
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 18 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## MODEL DEGREE COLLEGES IN EDUCATIONALLY BACKWARD DISTRICTS

*18. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for setting up of 374 model degree colleges in educationally backward districts across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the criteria for selecting educationally backward districts for the establishment of degree colleges;
- (d) the details of the number of such districts identified in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (e) the budget allocation for establishment of such degree colleges in educationally backward districts of Tamil Nadu and the timeline for completion; and
- (f) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure quality education and adequate infrastructure in these newly set up institutions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f) A statement is laid on the table of the House

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  18  ANSWERED  ON  21.07.2025  ASKED  BY  SHRI MALAIYARASAN D, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING MODEL DEGREE COLLEGES IN EDUCATIONALLY BACKWARD DISTRICTS

(a)  to  (f):  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State government universities and colleges, so as to  improve  their  quality  by  ensuring  their  conformity  to  prescribed  norms  and standards.

The  government  has  launched  the  third  phase  of  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha Abhiyan  (RUSA)  in  June  2023  in  the  form  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar  Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore, including the committed liabilities of the earlier phase of RUSA, for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/ underserved areas. Under PM-USHA, priority is given to focus districts. The focus districts are identified by the concerned States/ UTs based  on  various  criteria,  including  low  Gross  Enrolment  Ratio,  Gender  Parity, population proportion and enrolment proportion for females, transgenders, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, Aspirational/ Border Area/ Left Wing Extremism prone district, etc.

The scheme envisages improvement in access, equity and excellence in State Higher Education system through support under various components viz., Multi-Disciplinary Education  and  Research  Universities  (MERU),  Grants  to  Strengthen  Universities (GSU), Grants to Strengthen Colleges (GSC), New Model Degree Colleges (NMDC) and Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives (GIEI). All the 615 units under PM-USHA have been approved in various States /UTs with a total amount of Rs. 8178.71 Crore under various components.

In  the  State of Tamil Nadu, under RUSA, a total of 99 projects with a total central support of Rs.526 crore have been approved under various components, out of which 85 projects have already been completed, so far, as per the information furnished by the State.

The budget allocation of the State of Tamil Nadu for the FY 2025-26 is Rs. 25.5 Crore, towards meeting the committed liabilities of the earlier phases of RUSA.

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