Lok Sabha Question No. 421 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Integration of Lakhpati Didi Initiative in Higher Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 421 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Integration of Lakhpati Didi Initiative in Higher Education

*421. Shri Rajmohan Unnithan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to integrate 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative into higher education ecosystems, if so, the details thereof; (b)  whether  any  of  the  Kerala  Universities  have  been  shortlisted  for  global  education  hub development, if so, the details thereof; and (c) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen regional equity in the expansion of higher education?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (c):  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A)  TO  (C)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  421  FOR  REPLY  ON  23.03.2026  ASKED  BY  SHRI RAJMOHAN  UNNITHAN,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF  PARLIAMENT  REGARDING INTEGRATION OF LAKHPATI DIDI INITIATIVE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

(a):    Lakhpati  Didi  initiative  is  an  outcome  of  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana-National  Rural Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NRLM),  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  being  implemented  by Ministry of Rural Development in partnership of States and UTs (except Chandigarh and Delhi), with the objective to improve the livelihoods of poor rural households in country, and organise rural households into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for their social and financial inclusion. Lakhpati Didi initiative is to empower and enable Self-Help Groups (SHG) Women to earn a minimum income of Rupees one lakh per annum on a sustainable basis, for at least 4 agricultural seasons and/or business cycles. It is a community-based livelihood programme implemented through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and  complements the ecosystem  indirectly  by  promoting  practical,  non-formal learning and enterprise skills .

UGC has issued 'Guidelines for Fostering Social Responsibility and Community Engagement in Higher  Education  Institutions  (HEIs)  in  India'  in  December,  2022  to  the  Vice-Chancellors, Directors, Principals, faculty members and students of the HEIs. It aims to promote rural exposure, studies development programmes, analyses poverty causes, and applies classroom knowledge to real-life situations for improved learning and solutions.

Centrally administered Higher Education Institutions like Central Universities, IIMs, etc. are taking initiatives to nurture women-led self-help groups and women entrepreneurs.

Ministry of Education also runs a flagship programme namely 'Unnat Bharat Abhiyan' (UBA). It aims at connecting higher education institutions in the country with the society and villages in particular so that students and faculty learn from the practical exposure to natural, physical and social attributes of the field, understand realities of rural life, and also enrich their knowledge with traditional  wisdom  of  rural  folks,  in  addition  to  academics  in  classroom.  4806  institutions  are participating in UBA and are working ~23000 partner villages.

(b): Union Budget 2026-27 has announced setting up of 5 University Townships in the vicinity of major industrial and logistic corridors by supporting States, through challenge route. These planned academic  zones  will  host  multiple  universities,  colleges,  research  institutions,  skill  centres  and residential complexes.

The detailed structure of the scheme, including its implementation model, key components, priority sectors, and institutional arrangements, will be finalised through a consultative process. Broadly, the  proposed university  townships are  envisaged to provide  world-class  academic and research infrastructure including innovation and incubation facilities, industry partnerships and sustainable urban amenities.

Selecting  of  locations  will  be  dependent  on  factors  such  as  availability  of  suitable  land, connectivity,  regional  educational  needs,  potential  for  industry  linkage,  balanced  regional development and environmental sustainability.

(c): Education is in the concurrent list. Both the Central Government and the State Governments are equally responsible for providing quality education to all. The Central Government has taken various measures to strengthen regional equity in the expansion of higher education such as opening of  more  HEIs,  since  2014,  16  Indian  Institutes  of  Information  Technology  (IIIT),  8  Central Universities (CU), 8 Indian Institute of Management (IIM), 7 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), 2 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), 1 National Institute of Technology (NIT) and 12 new AIIMS have been established; Implementing various Scholarship and Fellowship schemes  for  providing  financial  assistance  to  students  including  from  underserved  regions; Allowing  well  performing  HEIs  (based  on  NAAC  and  NIRF  ranking)  by  University  Grants Commission (UGC) to offer full Open Distance Learning/Online Programmes based on quality parameters; Providing much-needed flexibility and appropriate Exit as well as entry options in the Higher Education system, to facilitate students to choose their learning trajectory; Allow pursuing two  Academic  Programmes  simultaneously;  Permitting  HEIs  for  two  admission  cycles  in  an academic year; Providing anytime, anywhere learning opportunities for all learners through Study Webs for Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform, which provides high quality structured online courses in multiple disciplines; Permitting up to 40% credits in regular courses using SWAYAM platform; and Conducting JEE, NEET (UG) and Common University Entrance  Test  (CUET)  Exams  in  13  languages,  and  making  available  Text  Books  in  Indian Languages to facilitate students, particularly from vernacular/rural background.

In alignment with NEP 2020, 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 for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 to cater to 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.

In  pursuance  of  the  Budget  announcement  2025-26,  Government  has  approved  expansion  of academic and infrastructure capacity including creation of Research Park of five new IITs which had been established  in  the  State/UT  of  Andhra  Pradesh  (IIT  Tirupati),  Kerala  (IIT  Palakkad), Chhattisgarh (IIT Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir (IIT Jammu) and Karnataka (IIT Dharwad) with a total outlay of Rs. 11,828.79 crore, which would facilitate education for additional 6500 students. Besides the above the Government has approved a total of Rs. 1942 crore for expansion of academic & hostel infrastructure, and development of Research Park for IIT Jodhpur, IIT Patna, IIT Indore through Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).

According to All  India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE)'s  portal,  number  of  University  / University Level Institutions, Colleges and Stand-alone Institutions in the Country rose to 1395, 53197 and 16577 respectively. State-wise data about Higher Education Institutions reported on AISHE portal is available at https://dashboard.aishe.gov.in/hedirectory/#/hedirectory .

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