Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)

Highlights of the Scheme

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions.
RUSA seeks to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio of the country to 30% by 2020
It also seeks to increase the spending on higher education by the State Governments.
Promote a spirit of healthy competition amongst states and institutions to excel in quality higher education, research and innovation.

How it is implemented ?

RUSA would create new universities through upgradation of existing autonomous colleges and conversion of colleges in a cluster.
It would create new model degree colleges, new professional colleges and provide infrastructural support to universities and colleges.
Faculty recruitment support, faculty improvements programmes and leadership development of educational administrators are also an important part of the scheme.
In order to enhance skill development the existing central scheme of Polytechnics has been subsumed within RUSA.
A separate component to synergise vocational education with higher education has also been included in RUSA.
Besides these, RUSA also supports reforming, restructuring and building capacity of institutions in participating state.

Funding:

A financial outlay of Rs 7100 crores has been earmarked for 3 years beginning 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The project cost in the public funded institutions for all sub-components is shared between the Central Government and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 60:40 for other States and UTs with Legislature and 100:0 for UTs without Legislature.
The funding would flow from the central ministry through the state governments/union territories to the State Higher Education Councils before reaching the identified institutions.
The funding to states would be made on the basis of critical appraisal of State Higher Education Plans, which would describe each state’s strategy to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher education.

Agencies Involved: