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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3718
ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026
PM USHA reforms in Andhra Pradesh
3718 Shri Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether timeline has been fixed for fund release and commencement of works for the
seven universities approved under PM USHA in Andhra Pradesh and the current status of
each;
(b) whether a monitoring mechanism exists to ensure Universities, including Vikrama
Simhapuri University, Nellore and Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam, implement
NEP- 2020–aligned multidisciplinary reforms;
(c) whether additional PM USHA funds are proposed for Andhra Pradesh to address
infrastructure gaps, especially in underserved districts; and
(d) whether guidelines based on the national workshop outcome report have been issued
and how they are being implemented by State Universities in Andhra Pradesh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) & (b): 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. 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. 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. 8190.73 crore,
including 7 universities of Andhra Pradesh.
The Government is monitoring for effective implementation of these education projects
through regular online/physical review meetings with stakeholders. Implementation and
monitoring of projects under the Scheme is the responsibility of both the Central and State
Governments. Furthermore, under the scheme, funds are released through the SNA-
SPARSH model for all States /UTs. Under the SNA-SPARSH model, funds are released
‘just in time’, and vendors and beneficiaries receive direct payments through daily sanction
releases based on the submission of bills on the PFMS portal. The progress of projects,including Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore and Sri Padmavathi Mahila
Visvavidyalayam, Chittoor, is monitored through the information furnished by the States/
UTs on Monthly Progress Report (MPR) module on the PM-USHA portal.
(c): Under PM–USHA, a total of 33 units have been approved in the State of Andhra
Pradesh, with a total approved amount of Rs. 378.74 crore, including Rs. 220 crore
approved for seven universities under the scheme.
(d): The Outcome report based on discussion and deliberation in the National Workshop
on Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities under PM-USHA, held on 30th
April and 1st May 2025 in New Delhi, has been compiled and shared with States/UTs with
an objective of achieving the broader goals of the scheme and to address the key areas
for improving quality, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting
multidisciplinarity and implementing the NEP in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
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