Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed questions regarding the establishment of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), the implementation of the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system, facilitating international collaborations, and enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). The government is actively promoting these initiatives through schemes like PM-USHA and regulations for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs). These efforts aim to improve access and quality in higher education across India, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Key Points / Main Content:
Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs):
* Under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), 35 Universities have been approved, including 3 in Madhya Pradesh and 4 in Maharashtra.
Academic Bank of Credit (ABC):
* The ABC initiative facilitates credit recognition, accumulation, and transfer.
* A 12-digit unique identifier, Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR ID), has been created for seamless interaction within the education ecosystem.
International Collaborations:
* UGC issued regulations in November 2023 to facilitate the establishment of campuses by Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) in India.
* Letters of Intent have been issued to 12 Foreign HEIs to open campuses in India.
* Deakin University and University of Wollongong have established offshore branch campuses in GIFT City, Gujarat, under IFSCA regulations issued in October 2022.
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER):
* The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 indicates a national GER of 29.5.
* The government is taking measures to increase GER, including opening more HEIs, providing scholarships, offering flexible exit and reentry options, and providing anytime, anywhere learning opportunities through SWAYAM.
Impact Analysis:
Higher Education Institutions:
* Impact: Implementation of ABC, establishment of MERUs, potential collaborations with FHEIs.
* Action Required: Adopt ABC system, participate in PM-USHA initiatives, explore collaborations with FHEIs.
Students:
* Impact: Enhanced mobility through ABC, increased access to diverse programs, improved learning opportunities.
* Action Required: Utilize ABC for credit transfer, explore SWAYAM platform, avail scholarship opportunities.
Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs):
* Impact: Opportunity to establish campuses in India and collaborate with Indian institutions.
* Action Required: Comply with UGC and IFSCA regulations for setting up and operating campuses.
Socio-economically marginalized segment:
* Impact: Equitable access to higher education through GER enhancement measures and financial assistance.
* Action Required: Avail scholarship and fellowship schemes, utilize flexible learning options, participate in entrance exams conducted in multiple languages.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP, 2020: A national policy document that outlines the vision and framework for education in India.
Maharashtra: A state in western India, mentioned in the context of higher education initiatives.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in central India, mentioned in the context of higher education initiatives.
Academic Bank of Credit ABC: A system for facilitating credit recognition, accumulation, and transfer in higher education.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan RUSA: A centrally sponsored scheme to fund state higher educational institutions.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan PMUSHA: The new phase of RUSA, aimed at improving access, equity, and quality in higher education.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
Gurugram, Haryana: A city in the state of Haryana, India, where foreign higher education institutions are establishing campuses.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3575
ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Multidisciplinary Education and Research University (MERU)
3575. Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:
Smt. Bharti Pardhi:
Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the progress on the establishment of Multidisciplinary Education and Research
Universities (MERUs) and the implementation of the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)
system in higher education institutions across the Country, particularly in Maharashtra
and Madhya Pradesh;
(b) whether the Government is facilitating international collaborations and the entry of top
ranked global Universities as envisioned under National Education Policy (NEP), 2020,
while ensuring equitable access to students from socio-economically marginalized
segment of the country, particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh; and
(c) the measures taken by the Government to enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
of students from marginalized segment in Higher Education across the country,
particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a): In alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, 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) for the period
2023-24 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore, including the committed
liabilities of the earlier phases of RUSA, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/
underserved areas. Under the Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities
(MERU) component of PM-USHA, 35 Universities (including 3 Universities in Madhya
Pradesh and 4 Universities in Maharashtra) have been approved.
To further facilitate smooth student mobility and credit transfer, the Government has
launched the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) initiative. ABC facilitates formalising credit
recognition, accumulation and transfer. Under the ABC system, a 12-digit unique
identifier, Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID has been
created for seamless interaction amongst the stakeholders of the education ecosystem
and to effectively map the lifelong journey of the learners.(b): In line with the NEP 2020, the UGC has issued ‘University Grants Commission
(Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in
India) Regulations, 2023’ in November, 2023 to facilitate the establishment of campuses
of the Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) in India. These regulations are
available at https://fhei.ugc.ac.in/Downloads/Regulations.pdf.
Under the Regulation 2023, UGC has issued Letter of Intent to 12 Foreign HEIs from
Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, USA to open their campuses at various places in India
including Gurugram (Haryana), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Chennai
(Tamil Nadu) and Noida/Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh). University of Southampton has
already established its campus in Gurugram, Haryana.
Furthermore, world-class Foreign Universities and Institutions can set up their branch
campuses in GIFT City as per the criteria and standards laid down in the International
Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) (Setting up and Operation of International
Branch Campuses and Offshore Education Centers) Regulations, 2022, issued in
October, 2022. These regulations are available at
https://ifsca.gov.in/Document/Legal/ifsca-ibc-and-oec-regulations-
202213102022113639.pdf.
Two Australian universities namely, Deakin University and University of Wollongong have
established offshore branch campuses and are offering courses in GIFT City, Gujarat
under the Regulations, 2022 mentioned above.
(c): As per the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 (provisional), the
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Higher Education at the national level is 29.5.
Furthermore, the Government has taken various measures to increase the GER in Higher
Education sector across the country including in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, such
as opening of more HEIs; implementing various Scholarship and Fellowship schemes for
providing financial assistance to students including for SC/ST/OBC; providing flexible exit
as well as re-entry options in Higher Education system; providing anytime, anywhere
learning opportunities for all learners through Study Webs for Active Learning for Young
Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform; and conducting JEE, NEET (UG) and Common
University Entrance Test (CUET) Exams in 13 languages, to facilitate students,
particularly from vernacular/rural background.
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