Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education to questions regarding the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). It details HEFA's operational status, loan disbursements, Institute of Eminence (IoE) status grants, and mechanisms for ensuring transparency and accountability. The information covers the last five years, with specific financial data provided.
Key Points / Main Content:
HEFA Operations and Funding:
* HEFA is a fully operational Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) that provides funds to centrally funded Higher Educational Institutions for infrastructure development.
* HEFA has sanctioned projects worth Rs. 43,437.58 crore to 110 centrally funded institutions since its inception.
* No institute has defaulted in loan repayments to HEFA.
Loan Details (Last Five Years):
* Total Amount Requested: Rs. 18,363.43 crore
* Total Amount Sanctioned: Rs. 17,960.63 crore
* Total Amount Disbursed: Rs. 5,433.26 crore
* Disbursement is based on project completion progress.
* Amounts sanctioned and disbursed to different categories of institutions are as follows:
* Central Universities: Requested - Rs. 5421.72 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 5324.14 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 1555.55 crore
* IITs: Requested - Rs. 8585.20 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 8452.62 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 2367.94 crore
* IIMs: Requested - Rs. 1024.74 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 1014.64 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 93.96 crore
* NITs: Requested - Rs. 2675.97 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 2557.38 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 1356.26 crore
* IIITs: Requested - Rs. 367.20 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 323.25 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 14.50 crore
* Others (IISc, IISER etc.): Requested - Rs. 288.60 crore, Sanctioned - Rs. 288.60 crore, Disbursed - Rs. 45.05 crore
Institute of Eminence (IoE) Status:
* The application process for IoE status concluded in FY 2017-18.
* No new applications have been called in the last five years.
* Twelve institutions have been granted IoE status (list provided in original document).
Transparency and Monitoring:
* HEFA employs various mechanisms for transparency, accountability, and timely monitoring.
* Mechanisms include: Project Monitoring System, Direct Disbursement Mechanism, Periodic Reviews, and Board Level Supervision.
Impact Analysis:
Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions:
* Impact: Access to funds for infrastructure development, subject to HEFA's approval and disbursement process.
* Action Required: Apply for loans, adhere to project monitoring requirements, and ensure timely project completion.
Vendors/Contractors:
* Impact: Direct payments through the Direct Disbursement Mechanism.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with project requirements and timely completion of work.
Ministry of Education:
* Impact: Oversight of HEFA's operations and monitoring of infrastructure development projects.
* Action Required: Periodic reviews and board level supervision to ensure transparency and accountability.
Key Entities Referenced
Higher Education Financing Agency HEFA: A Section 8 company and Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) registered with RBI, providing funds for infrastructure development in centrally funded Higher Educational Institutions under the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for higher education; formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Institute of Eminence IoE: A status granted to select higher education institutions in India, aimed at enabling them to achieve world-class standards.
IIT Madras: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
IIT Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
IISc Bangalore: Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka
University of Delhi: A central university located in Delhi, India.
Banaras Hindu University: A central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3460
ANSWERED ON 11/08/2025
Grant of Loan from HEFA
3460. Shri Raja Ram Singh:
Shri E T Mohammed Basheer :
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state :
(a) whether HEFA has become fully operational and its implementation is
improving the infrastructure of Higher Education across the country, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the total numbers of Colleges/Universities/Institutes applied for loan from
Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) during the last five years;
(c) the details of the Colleges/Universities/Institutes along with amount requested,
sanctioned and disbursed by HEFA during the last five years;
(d) whether any College/University/Institute has defaulted in repayment of loans,
if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of names and number of Colleges/Universities/Institutes applied for
and granted with the status of Institute of Eminence (IoE) during the last five years;
(f) whether any mechanism is in place to ensure transparency, accountability and
timely monitoring of project implementation under HEFA; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): HEFA has been set up as a Section-8 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. It is fully functional and sanctioned projects worth Rs. 43,437.58 crore
to 110 centrally funded institutions since its inception. No institute has defaulted in
repayment of loans to HEFA. During the last five years, the details of requested,
sanctioned and disbursed amount to various types of institutions is given below:-:
(In Rs. Crore)
Category of Amount Sanctioned Disbursed Remark
Institution Requested Amount Amount
Central Universities 5421.72 5324.14 1555.55 Sanctioned
(CUs) amount is
IITs 8585.20 8452.62 2367.94 usually
IIMs 1024.74 1014.64 93.96 disbursed in
NITs 2675.97 2557.38 1356.26 two and half
IIITs 367.20 323.25 14.50 years
Others (IISc, IISER 288.60 288.60 45.05 considering
etc.) the progress
Grand Total 18363.43 17960.63 5433.26 of completion
of the project.(e) The application process for institutions desiring IoE status was initiated and
concluded in FY 2017-18 itself. No new applications for granting IoE status have been
called in the last five years. Out of the applications received, twelve institutions have
been grated IoE status – IIT, Madras; IIT, Delhi; IIT, Bombay; IIT, Kharagpur; IISc
Bangalore; University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, University of Hyderabad,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani ; Manipal Academy of Higher
Education, Manipal; O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat and Shiv Nadar
University, Greater Noida.
(f) to (g): HEFA institutionalized practices to ensure transparency, accountability and
timely monitoring of project implementation in all centrally funded institutions. These
practices include Project Monitoring System to track the progress of infra-projects,
Direct Disbursement Mechanism where payments are made to vendors/contractors,
Periodic Reviews and Board Level Supervision to avoid delays and to ensure timely
completion of projects etc.
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