Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA)

Context- 14 states are yet to sign an MoU with the Union Ministry of Education  to participate in the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme.

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA): 

• In 2013, RUSA was launched as a centrally funded funding scheme for state/university institutions. 
  • The goal is to achieve higher  access, equity and excellence in the country’s higher education system. 
  • The second phase of the system was launched in 2018. 
• In light of the National Education Policy 2020, a RUSA program called Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) has been launched. 
• Funding: The proposal involves an outlay of Rs 12,929.16 crore in 2023-24 and 2025-26, of which the central share is Rs. 8120.97 crores and the Government’s share is  Rs. 4808.19 million euros. 
• Priority districts: According to the program, priority districts would be preferred. The concerned states/UTs determine the priority areas based on  the following indicators: 
  • Low GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio) 
  • Female, Transgender, SC, ST and OBC Population Share and Enrollment 
  •  Tri / border area / leftmost area 
  • Gender equality 

The objectives of the system are: 

• Improve the overall quality of existing government higher education institutions by ensuring their compliance with prescribed norms and standards and introducing accreditation as a quality  framework; 
• Implementation of  NEP 2020 recommendations through financial support  to public higher education institutions; 
• Ensure administrative, academic and degree (and evaluation) reforms in state universities and create backward and forward links with school education on the one hand and the labor market on the other; 
• Create an  atmosphere that enables colleges to focus on science and innovation; 
• Regional disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of access to higher education will be corrected. 
• Development of ODL/online/digital education infrastructure  in such states/UTs; 
• Improve employability through skills and vocational training; 
• Focus on interdisciplinary education, including  fields of study in STEM, business and humanities.

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