Central varsities to get Rs 3,500cr during 11th Plan

The government has decided to allocate about Rs 3,500 crore for overall development of the 24 existing central universities during the 11th Plan.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) today started consultations with the vice chancellors of these universities to finalise the allocation for each varsity during the plan period.

"We had sent committees to the central universities for assessing their requirements in the 11th Plan. They have submitted their reports which are on higher side than the money given by the government to these institutions. We are consulting the vice chancellors to finalise the funding to be made to each institute," UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat told PTI.

The vice chancellors of the 24 universities, chairpersons of the respective committees, which studied the requirements of each institution and senior UGC officials are involved in this exercise to finalise the grants.

The grants will help the universities to plan out specific programmes, appoint new people and expand the infrastructure facilities.

"The grants is for both expansion of facilities, creation of new positions and making expenses on development," Thorat said.

Once the grants are finalised, each institute will be able to go ahead with the special projects they have planned, he said.

Separate allocation would be made for the 16 upcoming central universities and the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University set up at Amarkantak, he said.