Budget Session 2025: Committed to quality higher education: Govt

Srinagar, Apr 09: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday said it is fully committed to providing free and quality higher education to students across the Union Territory, including by upgrading infrastructure and ensuring availability of qualified faculty in government degree colleges.
In a written reply to a question tabled by MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the government said that the adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stands as proof of its commitment to improving education standards in J&K.
The government also informed the House that infrastructure is being developed through schemes like CAPEX and RUSA, and that faculty positions are being filled through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) to strengthen human resources in higher education institutions.
Responding to the MLA’s concern about the lack of certain subjects at Government Degree College (GDC) Bandipora, the government clarified that the absence of subjects like Geology, Geography, Arabic, and Electronics is due to curriculum structure and institutional capacity, not due to lack of facilities.
It added that every subject cannot be introduced in each college.
“At present, Government Degree College Bandipora offers undergraduate courses in major subjects such as Commerce, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Political Science, Computer Applications, Sociology, English, Economics, Urdu, Education, History, and Zoology, along with a wide range of minor subjects to provide a well-rounded academic experience,” the reply said.
On the issue of infrastructure shortages at GDC Bandipora, the government acknowledged that the college lacks a dedicated library block, playground, hostel, and adequate transport facilities. However, it said concrete steps are being taken to address these deficiencies.
The government said a formal request for a new library block was received in February 2025 and the department will try to accommodate the demand in the CAPEX Budget for the financial year 2025-26, subject to fund availability.
Importantly, a new girls’ hostel has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Education under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme PM-USHA. “The Government of India has approved the construction of a girls’ hostel at GDC Bandipora at a cost of Rs 10 crore,” the government informed.
Regarding the lack of a playground, the government said fencing of the college land has been approved in the first instance. Once the fencing is completed, the process for the development of a playground will be initiated.
As for transport facilities, the college currently has three buses, out of which only one is functional. The other two buses have been condemned, the government confirmed.