Parliament Question: Financial Assistance to Lalit Narayan Mithila University

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3587 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Financial Assistance to Lalit Narayan Mithila University †3587. Shri Gopal Jee Thakur: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether any financial assistance of approximately Rs. 100 crore has been sanctioned to Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme; (b) if so, the details of the amount sanctioned, the amount released so far and the amount spent by the university, year-wise; (c) the details of buildings, academic infrastructure, laboratories, libraries, hostels, digital facilities and other development works constructed or upgraded in the university using the said amount; (d) the number of sanctioned projects that have been completed, those currently under construction and those pending along with the reasons for their pendency and the timeline for their completion; and (e) whether the Government is likely to conduct a review and audit of the utilization of the said Rs. 100 crore and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (e): 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. 12,926.10 crore, including the committed liabilities of the earlier phases of RUSA, 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, support is provided to States/UTs for strengthening infrastructure, including construction of hostels, academic and administrative buildings, laboratories and other facilities required for improving access and quality in higher education. The scheme has been further extended till 31st March, 2028, for completion of PM-USHA projects.Under PM-USHA, a total of 25 projects amounting to Rs. 388.85 Crore have been approved to the State of Bihar, including Lalit Narayan Mithila University (U-0068), Darbhanga, approved under the ‘Multidisciplinary Education and Research University (MERU)’ component of PM-USHA for a total amount of Rs. 100 Crore. With the funding support under PM-USHA, Lalit Narayan Mithila University has proposed for construction of G+3 Academic Block Building, Girls Hostel, Incubation and innovation Cell etc.; renovation of various science laboratories, Central Instrumentation Centre, etc.; acquisition of various IT products etc. for digital empowerment. As per the Monthly Progress Report (MPR) submitted by the University for the month of June 2026, the project has been reported as ongoing with 38% physical progress. In the current FY 2026-27, mother sanction amounting to Rs. 18.50 Crore has been issued to the State, for the utilization under various components. Education being in the Concurrent List, enhancing the quality of education is the responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. Under the scheme, as per the government rules and procedures, regular audit of the scheme is conducted at Central and State/UTs level. Based on the audited statements of expenditure of the various supported Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), a consolidated Utilisation Certificate (UC) is sought from State/UTs for release of further grants to the State/UTs. The Centre and State Governments also reviews progress of works along with State Higher Education Councils (SHECs), through various review meetings, physical visits etc. under the scheme. 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. *****