Parliament Question: Initiative for Quality Higher Education in Indian Languages

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2322 ANSWERED ON - 15/12/2025 Initiative for Quality Higher Education in Indian Languages

2322. Shri Bastipati Nagaraju :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: a) whether the Government has launched or proposes to launch the National Initiative for Quality Higher Education to promote high-quality higher education programmes in Indian languages;

b) if so, the details of the objectives, institutional framework, eligibility criteria, implementation mechanism and monitoring system adopted under the initiative; c) the number of institutions identified or assisted so far under the said initiative, State- wise and language-wise;

d) the financial assistance sanctioned and released under the said initiative since its inception, year-wise and institution-wise; e) whether any guidelines, manuals or operational procedures have been issued for implementation of the said initiative; and f) if so, the details of such guidelines? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (f) : A scheme Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme has been announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 with the aim to develop high-quality digital books for school and higher education in 22 Scheduled Indian languages. As per the objective of NEP 2020 for making technical knowledge/higher education accessible and inclusive, several initiatives like AI translation tools, courses in regional languages and developing textbooks in language like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu etc. have been taken by the Government.

AICTE through Technical Book Writing Scheme, nearly 447 books have translated in 12 scheduled languages. E Kumbh Portal of AICTE provides best-2- Engineering Books in original and in Indian language in digital form. Anuvadini Tool of AICTE is being utilized to bridge the language barrier and popularize learning and teaching of technical education in regional languages by providing standardized high quality technical books translated in the regional languages. Through 39 AICTE approved institutions in 11 States, are being provided in 7 Indian languages for 9 disciplines.

UGC through 23 nodal universities has identified more than 1089 authors for writing/preparing textbooks in 22 Bhartiya Bhasha for under-graduate level courses.

A comprehensive Digital Dashboard has also been developed with extensive features for data management and coordination of the project. *******