**Executive Summary**
This document presents the government's response to a starred question in Lok Sabha regarding the assessment and implementation of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) in Tamil Nadu. The UBA, launched in September 2014, aims to connect Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with rural communities to promote sustainable rural development. The response provides details on the progress, effectiveness, funding, and impact of UBA in Tamil Nadu, as well as measures to strengthen the program. The response was answered on 09.02.2025, and the statement provided was updated on 09.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
*Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) Overview*
* UBA is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Education, launched in September 2014.
* It connects Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with villages and local communities.
* The program aims to sensitize students about the socio-economic conditions of villages and encourage them to develop feasible solutions.
*UBA Implementation in Tamil Nadu*
* Under UBA 1.0 and 2.0, there are 624 HEIs covering 3120 villages in Tamil Nadu.
* 213 technology-based, managerial, and societal interventions have been implemented.
*Financial Support*
* The government has provided financial support to participating institutions (PIs) and has released funds regularly.
* A total of Rs. 33.70 crores has been released under the UBA scheme during the last five years.
*Assessment and Evaluation*
* The government has assessed the progress and effectiveness of UBA through periodic national-level evaluations by independent agencies.
* Evaluations by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (2020-21) and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (2025-26) concluded that UBA is a relevant and effective program that combines academic objectives with grassroots rural development.
*Monitoring and Expansion*
* Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is the National Coordinating Institute (NCI) of UBA.
* The scheme is supported by Regional Coordinating Institutes (RCIs), Subject Expert Groups (SEGs), State Governments, AICTE, and UGC.
* The Ministry of Rural Development has been requested to collaborate with the UBA scheme.
* The government promotes the scheme by regularly communicating with State Governments, District Administrations, and line Ministries.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) / Participating Institutions (PIs)**
*Impact*:
* HEIs are connected with villages to address rural challenges.
* HEIs receive financial support from the government to implement UBA.
*Action Required*:
* HEIs should continue to engage with villages to identify challenges and develop solutions.
* HEIs should utilize the funds released under UBA to implement relevant interventions.
**Stakeholder: Students**
*Impact*:
* Students are sensitized to the socio-economic conditions of villages.
* Students are encouraged to work with villages to develop feasible solutions.
*Action Required*:
* Students should actively participate in UBA activities and engage with rural communities.
**Stakeholder: Rural Communities**
*Impact*:
* Rural communities benefit from the interventions implemented under UBA, including livelihood enhancement, rural infrastructure, digital education, and capacity building.
*Action Required*:
* Rural communities should actively participate in UBA activities and collaborate with HEIs to address their challenges.
**Stakeholder: Government (Central and State)**
*Impact*:
* UBA contributes to sustainable rural development.
* The government is responsible for providing financial support and monitoring the implementation of UBA.
*Action Required*:
* The government should continue to support UBA and ensure that funds are released in a timely manner.
* The government should strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of UBA.
**Stakeholder: National Coordinating Institute (NCI) - IIT Delhi, Regional Coordinating Institutes (RCIs), Subject Expert Groups (SEGs)**
*Impact*:
* IIT Delhi is responsible for overall monitoring and implementation of UBA.
* RCIs and SEGs support the scheme and ensure region-specific management of HEIs.
*Action Required*:
* IIT Delhi, RCIs, and SEGs should continue to monitor and support the implementation of UBA.
Key Entities Referenced
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA): A flagship scheme of the Ministry of Education connecting Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with villages and local communities for rural development.
Ministry of Education: The ministry responsible for the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) scheme.
Tamil Nadu: Indian state where the progress and effectiveness of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is being assessed.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi: The National Coordinating Institute (NCI) of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 121
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2025
Assessment and Implementation of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan in Tamil Nadu
*121. Shri Malaiyarasan D:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the progress and effectiveness of Unnat Bharat
Abhiyan (UBA) in bringing sustainable rural development, especially in the Southern States
including Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from Tamil Nadu that have been
selected under UBA 1.0 and UBA 2.0;
(c) whether the funds allocated to participating institutions have been adequate and released in
a timely manner, if so, the details of fund released during the last five years;
(d) whether any measurable socio-economic outcomes such as improved livelihoods, digital
literacy, rural infrastructure or capacity building have been reported in Tamil Nadu under UBA,
if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, enhance
institutional support and expand the programme to more rural clusters?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 121 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ASKED BY SHRI
MALAIYARASAN D, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING
“ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN IN
TAMIL NADU”.
(a) to (e) Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Education
launched in September 2014. It connects Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), also called
Participating Institutions (PIs), in the country with the villages and local communities to
identify challenges faced by the rural communities. UBA aims to bring students closer to the
village communities and other government organizations with the ultimate goal of sensitizing
students about the socio-economic conditions of villages. It has created a wide network of
stakeholders, viz., HEIs, government organizations, youth, NGOs, etc., to work across villages.
The scheme focuses on sensitizing students of HEIs to the problems faced by villages and
encourages them to work with villages to develop feasible solutions to these problems.
Under UBA 1.0 and UBA 2.0, in the state of Tamil Nadu, there is a network of 624 HEIs under
the scheme covering 3120 villages. Further, 213 technology-based, managerial and societal
interventions have been implemented under UBA, contributing to outcomes in livelihood
enhancement, rural infrastructure, digital education and capacity building.
The Government has been providing financial support to the PIs under UBA, and funds have
been released regularly and in a timely manner in accordance with the scheme guidelines.
During the last five years, a total amount of Rs. 33.70 crores have been released under UBA
scheme.
The Government has assessed the progress and effectiveness of UBA through periodic
national-level evaluations by independent agencies. The scheme was first evaluated by the
National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in the year 2020-21. This has been
again evaluated by the Indian Institute of Public Administration in 2025-26. These evaluations
covered all States, including southern States and Tamil Nadu, and have concluded that UBA is
a highly relevant and effective programme, uniquely combining academic objectives with
grassroots rural development. It has also concluded that the scheme has created a strong
foundation for participatory governance, social responsibility, and social innovation.Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is the National Coordinating Institute (NCI) of UBA
to ensure ground level implementation of the scheme along with 50 Regional Coordinating
Institute (RCIs) which ensure the region-specific management of the HEIs. NCI (IIT Delhi) is
responsible for overall monitoring and implementation of UBA. The scheme is supported by
Regional Coordinating Institutes (RCIs) and Subject Expert Groups (SEGs) and coordination
with State Governments, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and University
Grants Commission (UGC) to strengthen monitoring and expand coverage to more rural
clusters.
Ministry of Rural Development has been requested to collaborate with UBA scheme through
District Collectors/District Magistrates/other concern officers of the Districts, who are
responsible for implementing NREGA at the district level. To expand the program to more
rural clusters, Government is promoting the scheme by regularly communicating with the State
Governments, District Administrations and line Ministries for providing adequate support to
institutes engaged under UBA.
*****