Parliament Question: Establishment of Institutional and Monitoring Framework under PM-USHA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5792 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 Establishment of Institutional and Monitoring Framework under PM-USHA 5792. Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has established any institutional and monitoring framework at the Central and State levels for appraisal, evaluation and performance-based release of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether any specific interventions have been approved by the Government for the focus districts, underserved regions and new Model Degree Colleges; and (c) if so, the details thereof, including the expected impact on access, equity and quality indicators in higher education in the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a): 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, including the committed liabilities of the earlier phase of RUSA, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/ underserved areas. The Government is monitoring for effective implementation of these education projects through regular online/physical review meetings with stakeholders. Implementation and monitoring of projects under the Scheme is the responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. Furthermore, under the scheme, funds are released through the SNA- SPARSH model for all States /UTs. Under the SNA-SPARSH model, funds are released ‘just in time’, and vendors and beneficiaries receive direct payments through daily sanction releases based on the submission of bills on the PFMS portal. (b) & (c): Under the scheme, 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 scheme envisages improvement in access, equity and excellence in State Higher Education system through support under various components viz., Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), Grants to Strengthen Universities (GSU), Grants to Strengthen Colleges (GSC), New Model Degree Colleges (NMDC) and Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives (GIEI). Under the scheme, establishment of 137 New Model Degree Colleges (NMDCs) have been approved for support under the component of ‘New Model Degree Colleges’ at a total amount of Rs. 12 – 15 crore each. *****