Date:30/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/30/stories/2008073060340400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Centre to fund ten new universities in State

24 State degree colleges to get
Rs. 1 crore each
Steps to enhance GER to 15 p.c. in XI Plan mooted

HYDERABAD: The ten new universities started by the State government in the last couple of years will be funded to the extent of Rs. 50 crore by the Central government with each university getting Rs. 5 crore. The State government has to provide the matching grant.

Apart from the universities, about 24 degree colleges started recently in the State will also get funding of Rs. 1 crore each with the State government providing similar amount as matching grant. The money is being given as a part of the HRD Ministry’s efforts to support new universities and create better academic facilities.

Similar policy was also announced by the UGC earlier for the colleges under the XI Plan.

The allocations were being made as per the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission that suggested to the Government to initiate steps to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 15 per cent in the XI Plan.

K.C. Reddy, Chairman, APPSC said the Union Minister of State for HRD D. Purandareswari had taken initiative to bring more national institutions to the State.

The National Architecture Institution coming up at Vijayawada was one such.