**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 103, addressed on July 21, 2025, the Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding hostel and mess charges in Central Universities. The response clarifies that Central Universities are autonomous organizations governed by their respective Acts, Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations. Decisions concerning hostel charges are made by the universities themselves, with the approval of their statutory bodies, while considering the economic conditions of students. The Ministry asserts that hostel messes are primarily managed by the students, with oversight from mess supervisors and hostel wardens, promoting transparency, fairness, and affordability. The response indicates that the government does not have specific policies or guidelines to regulate hostel and mess charges beyond the universities' own governance structures. Specific data regarding hostel room rent and mess charges for each Central University during the last five years and the current year, semester and university-wise, whether SC/ST students are exempted from hostel room rent and details of universities where exemptions are not applicable and details on increases in charges during the same period and reasons thereof were not provided in detail, citing the autonomy of the universities in these matters. Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, provided the response.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: A department of the Government of India responsible for higher education.
Central Universities: Autonomous higher education institutions established under Central Acts of Parliament.
Shri G Lakshminarayana: Member of Parliament who raised the question about hostel and mess charges in Central Universities.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, responsible for answering the parliamentary question.
SCST students: Students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a historically disadvantaged group in India.
Parliament: The legislative body of the Government of India.
Central Acts: Laws passed by the Parliament of India, under which Central Universities are established.
economically weaker sections: A socio-economic category denoting individuals or groups facing financial hardship.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 103
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Hostel and Mess Charges in Central Universities
103 Shri G Lakshminarayana:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of hostel room rent and mess charges in each Central University during the last
five years and the current year, semester and university-wise;
(b) whether the Government has any policy or guidelines to regulate the hostel and mess
charges in Central Universities;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to regulate hostel and mess charges to ensure
affordability for students, especially those from economically weaker sections;
(e) whether SC/ST students are exempted from hostel room rent in all Central Universities;
(f) if not, the details of universities where exemptions are not applicable;
(g) whether there has been any increase in hostel or mess charges during the last five years and
the current year; and
(h) if so, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (h) Central Universities under the purview of Ministry of Education are statutory
autonomous organizations established under respective Central Acts of Parliament and
governed by provisions of the Acts, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations made thereunder.
Decisions regarding hostel charges are taken by the universities with the approval of their
statutory bodies considering several factors including the economic conditions of various
categories of students. The Hostel messes are mostly managed by students themselves and are
monitored by mess supervisors/hostel wardens thereby ensuring transparency, fairness and
affordability.
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