Lok Sabha Question No. 4911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Utilisation of Funds under PM-USHA and other Higher Educational Schemes
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Kunduru Raghuveer

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4911 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Utilisation of Funds under PM-USHA and other Higher Educational Schemes

4911. Shri Kunduru Raghuveer:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) [earlier Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)],  Higher  Education  Financing Agency  (HEFA),  Prime  Minister's  Research Fellowship (PMRF), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) and Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) during the last five years, State-wise including Telangana;
- (b)  the  number  of  State  Universities,  Government  Degree  Colleges  and  research institutions in Telangana that have benefited under these schemes;
- (c)  whether  the  Government proposes to establish new  Central Institutions,  Model Degree  Colleges  or  Research  and  Innovation  Hubs  in  backward  districts  such  as Nalgonda, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen digital higher education through SWAYAM portal and SWAYAM Prabha channels in rural and semi-urban regions to ensure equitable access to quality higher education?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The government 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. 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.  PM-USHA  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.

Under the scheme, a total of 94 units have been approved in the State of Telangana, with a total approved cost of Rs. 767.60 crore (Central share is Rs. 463.60 crore). Out of this, an amount of Rs. 57.4 crore (Central share) has been released to Telangana during  the  last  five  years  (i.e.,2020-23  to  2024-25)  and  the  current  FY  (as  on 18.03.2026). In the State of Telangana, 13 Universities and 75 Colleges have been approved support under RUSA/PM-USHA. Furthermore, in the district of Nalgonda, 5 units  have  been  approved  support  for  an  amount  of  Rs.  31  Crore  under  various components of the scheme.

The government has set up Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)  as a Section8 company and registered with RBI as Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC). It provides fund to create quality infrastructure to all centrally funded Higher Educational Institutions under Ministry of Education. HEFA has sanctioned Rs 18458.30 Cr and released/utilised Rs.16479.62 Cr. during the last five years to different States including Telangana.

In pursuance to the Budget Announcement 2018-19, the Government had approved Prime Minister's Research Fellows Scheme (PMRF) with total financial outlay of Rs. 1650.00 Cr. The scheme aimed to attract the best and brightest minds to pursue high quality  research  in  India's  premier  academic  institutions  with  enhanced  financial support which includes fellowship and research grant. Under PMRF, 3688 scholars have been admitted. Till date, Rs. 1282 crores have been released under the scheme.

The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) was launched on 28th October 2018 with an aim to improve the research ecosystem of India's Higher Education Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance, with a budget outlay of Rs. 425.2  crores  for  the  period  2021-22  to  2025-26.  Under  the  scheme,  a  total  of  67 proposals have been approved in the State of Telangana.

The Global Initiative  of Academic  Networks  (GIAN)  Scheme  aims  to  enrich  Indian academic  institutions  through  the  participation  of  internationally  reputed  faculty, enabling  access  to  global  knowledge  and  expertise.  The  Scheme  facilitates  the conduct of specialized courses and academic interactions by foreign experts, thereby enhancing  the  quality  of  teaching  and  learning.  It  also  promotes  collaborative research, encourages innovation, and provides a structured platform for academic engagement. During the current year a total of Rs 14.23 crore has been released for 166 courses.

In  the  State  of  Telangana,  there  are  several  centrally  funded  higher  educational institutions  including  University  of  Hyderabad,  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IIT) Hyderabad, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, etc. Furthermore, under RUSA, 7 New Model Degree Colleges have been established in the State of Telangana with a total amount of Rs. 12 Crore each.

Under  National  Mission  on  Education  through  Information  and  Communication Technology  (NMEICT)  scheme, Study Webs of Active  Learning for Young Aspiring Minds  (SWAYAM)  platform  hosts  content  curated  by  premier  institutions  and  is available free of cost with the approach of  'Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime' Learning.

Further,  University  Grants  Commission  has  issued  (Credit  Framework  for  Online Learning Courses through Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) Regulations, 2021, which enables institutions to allow upto 40% of the total credits being offered in a particular programme in a semester through SWAYAM Platform. To make credits from Swayam platform more accessible, Ministry of Education has also allowed the Universities that accept SWAYAM credit, to take the SWAYAM proctored examination in their own campuses for their student.

As on date, 415 universities have adopted SWAYAM Courses for credit. More than 4400  unique  courses  have  been  offered  through  SWAYAM.  These  courses  have witnessed cumulative enrolments of more than 6 Crores.

Further, with a vision to promote equitable access to quality learning, the Government is  implementing  the  SWAYAM  Prabha  project  under  NMEICT,  which  provides curriculum-based educational content through a network of 48 Direct-to-Home (DTH) television channels. As on date, educational video lectures with a cumulative duration of over 94,000 hours are available on the web platform.

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