Cabinet clears ₹3,600-cr for building new universities

The Union Cabinet has granted approval of ₹3,600 crore for the construction of 13 new central universities in the next 36 months. The new universities, which would be built under the Central Universities Act, 2009, will be established in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. While one university each is to be set up in 11 of these states, J&K will get two new central varsities. The funds are to be spent on construction of new buildings and in creating the necessary infrastructure, including new campuses. The move will increase access to higher education and set exemplary standards for other universities to emulate, and will help in minimizing the regional imbalances in the education sector.