Lok Sabha Question No. 199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Shortage of HEIs in Mumbai
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.199 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## Shortage of HEIs in Mumbai

## 199. Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad: Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Mumbai faces a shortage of Higher Education Institutions  (HEIs)  despite  the  growing  student  population  and  increasing  demand  for quality higher education, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposal for the establishment of a new Central University or national-level institute in Mumbai to address this demand;
- (c) If so, the details thereof along with the present status of such proposals;
- (d) whether the Government has identified land or initiated discussions with the State Government of Maharashtra for setting up new higher education or research institutions, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to upgrade existing colleges affiliated to the University  of  Mumbai  into  autonomous  or  deemed  universities  to  enhance  access, affordability and research capacity in the metropolitan region?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (e):  As  per  AISHE  Report  2021-22,  there  are  7003  total  number  of  Higher Education  Institutions  (HEIs)  in  Maharashtra.  In  Mumbai  district,  there  are  various prominent Institutions of National Importance such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)  Bombay;  Indian  Institute  of  Management  (IIM),  Mumbai  and  Centrally  funded deemed University like Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), etc. which cater to the educational as well as the aspirational needs of the students in Mumbai. Education being in the Concurrent List, enhancing the quality of education is the responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. The State Universities function under the administrative control of the concerned State and are established by an Act of the State Legislation.  However,  recognizing  the  need  for  central  assistance,  the  Central Government has implemented various schemes for supporting State Governments.

Ministry of Education is implementing Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) which 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 for  the  period  2023-24  to  2025-26  to  cater  to  needs  of  educationally  unserved/ underserved  areas.  Under  RUSA  and  PM-USHA,  a  total  of  144  units  have  been approved support in the state of Maharashtra for a total amount of Rs. 1431.31 Crores, including  financial  support  for  improving  and  strengthening  infrastructure  of  24 Universities and 111 Colleges. Furthermore, under the earlier phases of RUSA, 3 New Model  Degree  Colleges  have  been  approved  support  in  the  districts  of  Washim, Nandurbar, Hingoli of Maharashtra with a total amount of Rs.28 Crores.

Central  Universities  are  envisaged  to  function  more  as  pace  setter  institutions  to provide academic leadership to other institutions in the region. Following 12th Fiveyear Plan (2012-17) as approved by the NDC, the thrust was on consolidation of the higher education system. Expansion was to be mainly done by scaling up capacity of the existing institutions in place of setting up new institutions. There is already one Central  University  in  Maharashtra  namely,  Mahatma  Gandhi  Antarrashtriya  Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha.

Furthermore, Deemed to be University (DTBUs) status is regulated as per the UGC (Institutions  deemed  to  be  Universities)  Regulations,  2023.  Currently,  a  total  of  23 Institutions Deemed to be Universities (IDTBUs) are operational in Maharashtra, with 8 located in Mumbai.

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