Lok Sabha Question No. 3297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Increase in Expenditure on Higher Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3297

LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Increase in Expenditure on Higher Education

3297. Shri Dushyant Singh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the financial challenges related to funding higher education across various levels in the country, particularly in Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for such oversight;
- (b) the details of measures taken by the Government to enhance the financial sustainability and affordability of higher education to ensure equitable access to all students, especially in Rajasthan; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  increase  public  expenditure  on  higher  education  to address funding issues within the sector across the country and particularly in Rajasthan and if so, the details of the proposed increase and if not, the reasons for maintaining the current expenditure levels?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a to c) Education, being in the concurrent list, is the joint responsibility of both Central and State Governments.  Government of India is committed towards improving   the access, equity and quality in Higher Education.  A number of Schemes have been implemented in Higher Education.  Under PM USHA, financial assistance is provided to selected public funded universities and colleges of the States/UTs Government for improving quality of education. PM  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Protsahan  (PM-USP)  Yojana  provides  financial  assistance  to meritorious students from economically weaker section. PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme, which has been  launched  recently,  seeks  to  provide  financial  support  to  meritorious  students  so  that financial constraints do not prevent any youth of India from pursuing quality higher education. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) has been set up to substantially increase funding for creating quality infrastructure in Higher Educational institution of Ministry of Education.

There has been a consistent increase in the  Budget Allocation in Higher Education during last five years.                                                                                            (Rs. in Crore)

| FY: 2020-21   |   FY: 2021-22 |   FY: 2022-23 |   FY: 2023-24 |   FY: 2024-25 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| 32,900        |       36031.6 |       40828.3 |       44744.5 |       47619.8 |

There has been an overall increase of Rs. 2875.29 crore in the budget allocation of the Department of Higher Education in the FY: 2024-25 compared to FY: 2023-24.

A total of Rs. 556.86 crore has been released in FY 2024-25 till 30.11.2024 to three Centrally  Funded  Higher  Education  Institutions  in  Rajasthan,  namely  IIT  Jodhpur,  MNIT Jaipur and CU Rajasthan. Further, Rs. 535.99 crore was provided for setting-up of IIM Udaipur and IIIT Kota in the state of Rajasthan.

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