The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has recently brought to the attention of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) alleged instances of corruption concerning the implementation of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). This development was brought to light in July 2019 following reports by the director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) who pointed out significant irregularities in the utilization of funds.
About Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
Introduced in October 2013, RUSA is a centrally sponsored scheme dedicated to strategically financing higher education institutions across India. The project operates in mission mode and funds state universities and colleges to ensure equity, access, and excellence in education. It receives funding from the central ministry and is distributed through the state governments and Union Territories (UTs). Coordination with the Central Project Appraisal Board ensures monitoring of the academic, financial, and administrative advancements made under this scheme. Since the fiscal year of 2016-17, the government has consistently spent an average of Rs 1500 crore per annum on RUSA.
Objectives of RUSA
The primary objective of RUSA is to elevate the total quality of state institutions by adhering to predetermined norms and standards. Part of this goal involves making accreditation—a certification indicating competency— a necessary component of the quality assurance framework.
Furthermore, RUSA also emphasizes fostering autonomy among state universities and improving institutional governance. Reforms in affiliation, the academic system, and examination procedures are part of this objective. Additionally, RUSA aims to ensure a sufficient availability of quality faculty across all higher educational institutions, with capacity building being encouraged at all levels of employment.
Moreover, RUSA strives to create a conducive environment for conducting research within the higher education system. To counter regional disparities in higher education access, RUSA focuses on establishing more institutions in areas that are underserved.
Finally, RUSA has a strong commitment to augmenting equity in higher education. This includes providing ample opportunities to those who are disadvantaged.
Reported Irregularities
| Date | Issues Reported | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| July 2019 | Serious irregularities in the use of funds | Under scrutiny by PMO |
Steps Taken for Scrutiny
The alleged misconduct in the implementation of RUSA was discovered in July 2019. The director of TISS reported substantial irregularities in the usage of funds. Promptly reacting to this, the Ministry of Human Resource Development approached the Prime Minister’s Office to note the issue. The case is presently under examination.
