**Executive Summary**
This document is the Ministry of Education's response, dated December 1, 2025, to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha (No. 199) regarding the shortage of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mumbai. It acknowledges the need for quality higher education and outlines government initiatives to support State Governments. The response includes details on existing HEIs, financial support through RUSA and PM-USHA, and the status of Deemed to be Universities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **HEI Landscape in Maharashtra and Mumbai:**
* As per the AISHE Report 2021-22, Maharashtra has 7003 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
* Mumbai has prominent institutions like IIT Bombay, IIM Mumbai, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
* **Government's Role and Initiatives:**
* Education falls under the Concurrent List, making quality education a joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments.
* The Central Government has implemented schemes to support State Governments.
* **Financial Support and Schemes:**
* Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) are centrally sponsored schemes to fund State government universities and colleges.
* Rs. 1431.31 Crores has been approved under RUSA and PM-USHA for Maharashtra, including infrastructure improvements for 24 Universities and 111 Colleges.
* Rs.28 Crores has been approved support under the earlier phases of RUSA for 3 New Model Degree Colleges in the districts of Washim, Nandurbar, Hingoli of Maharashtra.
* **Central Universities and Deemed Universities:**
* Central Universities are intended to provide academic leadership.
* Existing strategy focuses on scaling up capacity in existing institutions rather than establishing new ones.
* Maharashtra has one Central University: Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha.
* Deemed to be University (DTBU) status is regulated as per UGC regulations, 2023.
* 23 Institutions Deemed to be Universities (IDTBUs) are operational in Maharashtra, with 8 located in Mumbai.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Responsible for administering State Universities established by an Act of the State Legislation, enhancing the quality of education in HEIs.
* **Action Required:** Continue collaboration with the Central Government, utilize available central assistance schemes effectively, maintain administrative control over State Universities.
**Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Potentially benefit from financial support through RUSA and PM-USHA to improve infrastructure and quality.
* **Action Required:** Conform to prescribed norms and standards to be eligible for funding, propose suitable projects for consideration.
**Students in Mumbai**
* **Impact:** Benefit from enhanced access, affordability, and research capacity at upgraded colleges and universities.
* **Action Required:** Take advantage of improved educational opportunities, explore available programs in educationally underserved areas.
Key Entities Referenced
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State government universities and colleges to improve their quality.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA): The third phase of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
Ministry of Education: The central ministry responsible for education, answering questions about HEIs in Mumbai.
Maharashtra: The state in which Mumbai is located and where the RUSA and PM-USHA schemes have provided support.
Mumbai: The city facing a shortage of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), subject of the parliamentary question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.199
ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Shortage of HEIs in Mumbai
199. Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad:
Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that Mumbai faces a shortage of Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) despite the growing student population and increasing demand for
quality higher education, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received any proposal for the establishment of a new
Central University or national-level institute in Mumbai to address this demand;
(c) If so, the details thereof along with the present status of such proposals;
(d) whether the Government has identified land or initiated discussions with the State
Government of Maharashtra for setting up new higher education or research institutions,
if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to upgrade existing colleges affiliated to the
University of Mumbai into autonomous or deemed universities to enhance access,
affordability and research capacity in the metropolitan region?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): As per AISHE Report 2021-22, there are 7003 total number of Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) in Maharashtra. In Mumbai district, there are various
prominent Institutions of National Importance such as Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) Bombay; Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai and Centrally funded
deemed University like Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), etc. which cater to the
educational as well as the aspirational needs of the students in Mumbai. Education
being in the Concurrent List, enhancing the quality of education is the responsibility of
both the Central and State Governments. The State Universities function under the
administrative control of the concerned State and are established by an Act of the State
Legislation. However, recognizing the need for central assistance, the Central
Government has implemented various schemes for supporting State Governments.Ministry of Education is implementing Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State government
universities and colleges, so as to improve their quality by ensuring their conformity to
prescribed norms and standards. 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. 12926.10 crore
for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 to cater to needs of educationally unserved/
underserved areas. Under RUSA and PM-USHA, a total of 144 units have been
approved support in the state of Maharashtra for a total amount of Rs. 1431.31 Crores,
including financial support for improving and strengthening infrastructure of 24
Universities and 111 Colleges. Furthermore, under the earlier phases of RUSA, 3 New
Model Degree Colleges have been approved support in the districts of Washim,
Nandurbar, Hingoli of Maharashtra with a total amount of Rs.28 Crores.
Central Universities are envisaged to function more as pace setter institutions to
provide academic leadership to other institutions in the region. Following 12th Five-
year Plan (2012-17) as approved by the NDC, the thrust was on consolidation of the
higher education system. Expansion was to be mainly done by scaling up capacity of
the existing institutions in place of setting up new institutions. There is already one
Central University in Maharashtra namely, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi
Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha.
Furthermore, Deemed to be University (DTBUs) status is regulated as per the UGC
(Institutions deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023. Currently, a total of 23
Institutions Deemed to be Universities (IDTBUs) are operational in Maharashtra, with
8 located in Mumbai.
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