Srinagar, Mar 17: The Union government on Monday said that private self-financing colleges in Jammu and Kashmir do not qualify for financial assistance under central government schemes.
This was stated by Ministry of Education during a Lok Sabha session in response to a query raised by Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, informed the House that the University Grants Commission (UGC) does not extend financial aid to private self-financing institutions, including those in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he noted that government and government-aided colleges in the UT remain eligible for support under schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) and Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
To strengthen higher education infrastructure, the central government launched PM-USHA in June 2023 as the third phase of RUSA. With a budget of ₹12,926.10 crore allocated for 2023-24 to 2025-26, the initiative aims to support state universities, government colleges, and educational institutions in underserved regions.
Dr. Majumdar further said that comprehensive data on private and government degree colleges across different states, based on AISHE 2022-23 (Provisional), is available on the Ministry of Education’s official website.
He also said that information regarding funds allocated under PM-USHA, UGC grants, and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for school education over the last two years can be accessed online.
