Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan:
The Union Education Minister chaired a review meeting on Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
Highlights of the Meeting:
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Need to draw plans on educating additional 3.5 crore students to increase GER to 50% by 2035.
- India’s higher education enrollment is calculated in terms of GER, which is the ratio of population in the 18-23 age group to the number of people enrolled in higher education.
- According to All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the GER in higher education has increased from 25.8% in 2017-18 to 26.3% in 2018-19, while in absolute terms the enrolment increased from 3.66 crores to 3.74 crore students.
- A total of 7 crore students with employable skills that suit local conditions should pass out from colleges and Universities.
- Education should lead to local employment. Education in Degree College should be aligned with the “One district one product (ODOP)” plan.
- The University Grants Commission will monitor the progress of work done by Institutions that received funding under the RUSA scheme.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan:
- It aims at providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout the country.
- The scheme is being operated in mission mode for funding state universities and colleges to achieve the aims of equity, access, and excellence.
- Funding: It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in October 2013.
- Since 2016-17, the government has spent an average of Rs. 1,500 crore every year on RUSA.
