Jammu, Mar 20: In a significant development for the higher education sector, the Government has confirmed that Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) in Ukhral and Batote—currently operating from makeshift school buildings—will soon get permanent infrastructure.
Responding to a starred question raised by MLA Arjun Singh Raju in the Legislative Assembly, the Higher Education Department informed that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for constructing permanent campuses for both GDC Ukhral and GDC Batote have been approved. The approval came during the 8th meeting of the Building Screening Committee held on January 23, 2025.
The department has already initiated the process of granting Administrative Approval, with construction work scheduled to commence in the financial year 2025–26.
On the issue of expanding university-level education in Ramban district, the Government clarified that there is currently no proposal to establish a satellite campus of the University of Jammu in the area, akin to the model of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri. However, a committee has been constituted to assess the feasibility of setting up an offsite campus in Ramban, based on the district’s educational needs.
The Government also addressed broader concerns regarding the number of university-level institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. It stated that there are currently 11 universities in the Union Territory—nine state universities and two central universities. To enhance academic access and excellence, the Higher Education Department has drafted a policy aimed at facilitating the establishment of private universities in J&K. Once approved by the Competent Authority, the policy is expected to pave the way for new private institutions of higher learning in the region.
The official responses were submitted by the Minister for Higher Education.
