Lok Sabha Question No. 2640 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Model Degree Colleges in Educationally Backward Districts of Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2640 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Model Degree Colleges in Educationally Backward Districts of Andhra Pradesh

2640. Shri P V Midhun Reddy:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number of model degree colleges sanctioned, approved and  currently operational in educationally backward districts of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the criteria adopted for identifying such educationally backward districts and the institutions selected for establishment of model degree colleges in the said State;
- (c) the district-wise allocation of funds, details of funding released so far and the timelines for establishment and operationalisation of these Model Degree Colleges in Andhra Pradesh; and
- (d) the quality-assurance mechanisms put in place for these Model Degree Colleges, including the norms for faculty recruitment and infrastructure development?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (d):  Education  being  in  the  Concurrent  List,  enhancing  the  quality  of  education  is  the responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. However, recognizing the need for central  assistance,  the  Central  Government  has  implemented  various  centrally  sponsored schemes  including  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  for  supporting  the  State Governments.

The  government  has  launched  the  third  phase  of  the  RUSA  in  June  2023  in  the  form  of Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (PM-USHA),  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  12,926.10 crore, including the committed liabilities of the earlier phases of RUSA, for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/ underserved areas. The scheme has been further extended till 31 st March, 2028 for completion of PM-USHA projects and for additional 6 months (i.e., 30 th September, 2026) for completion of ongoing RUSA projects.

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 State of Andhra Pradesh has identified 13 districts as focus districts.

Under the earlier phases of RUSA, a total of 8 New Model Degree Colleges (NMDCs) have been approved for the State of Andhra Pradesh for a total amount of Rs. 94.66 crore. As per the information furnished by the State, all NMDCs are functional. The district-wise details of amount approved and released to the 8 NMDCs, as per the information furnished by the State are as given below:

|   S. No. | Name of New Model Degree College (NMDC)   |   Total Amount Approved (Crore) |   Total Amount Released, so far (Crore) |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|        1 | GDC(W), Araku, Visakhapatnam              |                           12    |                                   11.81 |
|        2 | GDC, Atmakur, Kurnool                     |                           12    |                                   11.11 |
|        3 | GDC, Cheepurupalli, Vizianagaram          |                           12    |                                   11.79 |
|        4 | GDC, Jaggampeta, East Godavari            |                           10.66 |                                   10.66 |
|        5 | GDC, Kamavarapukota, West Godavari        |                           12    |                                   11.64 |
|        6 | GDC, Pathapatnam, Srikakulam              |                           12    |                                   11.94 |
|        7 | GDC, Pendlimarri, Kadapa                  |                           12    |                                   11.86 |
|        8 | GDC, Yerragondapalem, Prakasam            |                           12    |                                    9.4  |

*****