New Delhi
On Wednesday, the Rajya Sabha unanimously passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, with a focus on establishing a Central Tribal University in Telangana to offer higher education and research opportunities primarily for the tribal community. Named the ‘Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University,’ it will cater to the tribal population in Telangana, fulfilling the mandate outlined in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
During the debate, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed concerns and emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing the Central Tribal University in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He acknowledged the delay in Telangana’s case, attributing it to the time taken by the state government to identify a suitable location.
Pradhan highlighted the estimated expenditure of around Rs 900 crore for the ‘Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University.’ Additionally, he shared positive developments in higher education, citing an 81 per cent increase in Ph.D. course registrations from 2014-15 to 2021-22, totaling over two lakh registrations. Notably, women’s enrollment in Ph.D. courses saw a remarkable 106 per cent surge during the same period.
Underlining the government’s commitment to addressing vacancies in higher education institutions, Pradhan announced the recent filling of over 11 thousand out of 18 thousand vacant positions in the last two months. Furthermore, he revealed the government’s mandate for NAAC accreditations for all higher institutions. The passage of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, signifies a significant stride in advancing accessible and quality education for India’s tribal population.
