Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA)

Quick facts 

• Purpose: To cater to needs of educationally unserved/underserved areas
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Schemes
• Coverage: Covers government and government-aided institutions of the States and UTs
• Tenure: 2023-24 to 2025-26

Objectives 

• To improve the overall quality of existing state higher educational institutions (State HEIs). 
• Implementation of recommendations of the NEP 2020 through funding support provided to State HEIs.
• Improving accreditation status of accredited institutions and getting accreditation of non-accredited institutions.
• Establish backward and forward linkages with school education on one hand and employment market, on the other hand.
• Developing infrastructure for ODL/Online/Digital mode of education in such States/UTs.
• Providing adequate opportunities for higher education to socially deprived communities. 
• Focusing on low GER, Left Wing Extremism (LWE), border area districts, aspirational districts and districts with higher SC/ ST population,
• Enhancing employability through skilling and vocationalization. 
• Focus on multidisciplinary education, including STEM, commerce and humanities fields of education.

Salient features 

Background: In 2013, Centre launched Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA to attain higher levels of access, equity, and excellence in the State HEIs. In 2018, the second phase of RUSA was launched.  Now, in the light of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, RUSA scheme has been launched as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). Component in PM-USHA  Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU): Only accredited state government universities would be eligible.  NAAC Grading; NIRF Ranking are key criterion for shortlisting.  Grants to Strengthen Universities (Accredited & Unaccredited Universities): Only state government universities would be eligible. Grants to Strengthen Colleges (Accredited & Unaccredited Colleges): Only state government and government-aided colleges will be eligible. New Model Degree Colleges: Districts without any government HEIs would be eligible. Only state government colleges would be established. Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives: Districts would be taken as a unit and not individual institutions. The activities that can be undertaken under this component include doing sensitization workshops, combined hostels for females for the nearby colleges and universities in the district, etc. Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER): The amount of MMER grants is 2 percent of the total fund approved, out of which 1 % will be released to the States/ UTs and 1 % will be utilized by the Centre.   Priority would be given to Focus districts: States would identify the Focus Districts on the basis of the following indicators:  Low Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). Population proportion and enrollment proportion for Females, transgenders, SCs, STs and OBCs. Aspirational/ Border Area/ Left Wing Extremism (LWE) prone district. Gender parity. Process of Selection: Selection of institutions would be done through the challenge method.  Monitoring and Evaluation: The scheme shall be monitored and evaluated at each level i.e. Central, State, and Regional.  At the Central Level National Mission Authority (NMA) chaired by Union Minister of Education acts as an overseer of the scheme. Project Approval Board (PAB) (chaired by Secretary, Higher Education, GoI) ensures regular monitoring and evaluation of not only the proposals but also the performance of the scheme. Activities not supported under PM USHA: Payment of salaries, pensions, and other benefits, recurring/non-recurring cost for any project, etc., scholarships, fellowships, or stipends to students, among others.