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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2107
ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026
Multi Disciplinary University in Chenab Region, J&K
2107 Shri Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has assessed the absence of any full fledged University in the Chenab
Region of J&K, comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban Districts, forcing students to migrate
to distant regions for higher and postgraduate education;
(b) if so, whether Government proposes to establish a new Multi-disciplinary University in the
Chenab Region to address regional imbalance, improve access for students for remote and
hilly areas and strength human resources development; and
(c) the details of feasibility studies conducted, land identification, financial implications and
timelines, if any?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c): Education being in the Concurrent List, enhancing the quality of education is the
responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. However, recognizing the need for
central assistance, the Central Government has implemented various centrally sponsored
schemes including Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for supporting the State
Governments.
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, for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/
underserved areas. Under PM-USHA, 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.As on date, under PM-USHA, a total of 613 units have been approved in various States/UTs
for a total support amounting to Rs. 8168.51 crore. Furthermore, the scheme has been further
extended till 31st March, 2028, for completion of PM-USHA projects and for an additional 6
months (i.e., 30th September, 2026) for completion of ongoing RUSA projects.
In the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, the proposals submitted by the UT were examined and placed
before the various Project Approval Board (PAB) meetings, having Secretary, Higher
Education of the UT as a member, for its consideration and approval. In the UT, since inception
of the scheme, a total of 74 projects have been approved support under various components
for a total amount of Rs.706.52 crore. This includes support to the University of Jammu for
Rs.100 crore under the Enhancing Quality and Excellence in Select State Universities
component of RUSA and support to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu and Baba
Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Jammu for an amount of Rs. 20 crore each under the Grants
to Strengthen Universities (GSU) component of PM-USHA.
Under the various components of PM-USHA such as Multi-Disciplinary Education and
Research Universities (MERU), Grants to Strengthen Universities (GSU) etc., the Universities
in respective States/ UTs are supported to become multi-disciplinary and are expected to
undertake various mandatory activities in alignment with NEP 2020, such as (i) implementation
of National Credit Framework (NCrF) and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and
implementation of elective course system; (ii) adoption of Academic Bank of Credits; (iii) using
Online Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Programmes such as SWAYAM/MOOCS; (iv)
courses in Indian Languages; (v) embedding Indian knowledge System (IKS) in the Curriculum;
(vi) bridge courses for socially and economically disadvantaged students; (vii) Vocational
courses for 21st century skills, Internships/Training, etc. towards achieving higher levels of
access, equity, and excellence and promoting holistic and multi-disciplinary education.
Under the scheme, there is no specific component for establishment of Universities. However,
under the earlier phase of RUSA, support amounting to Rs. 12 crore has been approved for
the establishment of a New Model Degree College (NMDC) under the NMDC component in
Kishtwar district. Furthermore, 7 units amounting to Rs.34.94 crore have been approved in the
districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban under various components of the scheme, such as
Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives (GIEI), Grants to Strengthen Colleges (GSC), New
Model Degree College (NMDC), etc.
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