Background to the Act

(www.mhrd.gov.in)

In 1950, India made a Constitutional commitment to provide free and compulsory education to all

children up to the age of 14, by adding this provision in article 45 of the Directive Principles of State

Policy.

With the Constitution (Eighty-Sixth) Amendment Act (168 KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window

on 12th December 2002, Article 21A was amended in order to introduce Right to Education as a

fundamental right. The Right to Education Bill, 2005 (121 KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window

was introduced to give effect to the Constitution (Eighty-Sixth) Amendment Act.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (1.48 MB) - PDF file that opens in a new

window finally came into force on 1st April 2010. With the implementation of this Act, it is expected

that issues of school drop out, out-of-school children, quality of education and availability of trained

teachers will be addressed in the short to medium term plans.

Major provisions of the Act

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) - External website that

opens in a new window has been designated as the agency to monitor provisions of the Act.

Main provisions of the Act:

Every child between the ages of six to fourteen years shall have the right to free and

compulsory education in a neighbourhood school, till completion of elementary

education - External website that opens in a new window.

No child shall be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or expenses which may prevent

him or her from pursuing and completing elementary education.

Where a child above six years of age has not been admitted to any school or though

admitted, could not complete his or her elementary education, then, he or she shall be

admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age.

The appropriate government and local authority shall establish a school, if it is not

established, within the given area in a period of three years from the commencement of

this Act.

The Central and the State Governments shall have concurrent responsibility for providing

funds for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

As per the provision of the Act, the Central Government has authorised the National Council of

Educational Research & Training (NCERT) - External website that opens in a new window as

the academic authority to lay down the curriculum and evaluation procedure for elementary

education and develop a framework of national curriculum.

This Act is an essential step towards improving each child's accessibility to secondary - External

website that opens in a new window and higher education - External website that opens in a new

window. The Act also contains specific provisions for disadvantaged groups, such as child

labourers, migrant children, children with special needs, or those who have a disadvantage owing

to social, cultural, economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or any such factor.

Initiatives at Different Stages of Education

Elementary Education

Elementary education in India starts from the age of six. The government has made elementary

education compulsory and free.

The central and state governments have been expanding the provision of formal and non-formal

primary education to realise the goal of Universilisation of Elementary Education (UEE). For detailed

information click here - External website that opens in a new window.

Scheme to Provide Quality Education in Madrasas

SPQEM seeks to bring about qualitative improvement in Madrasas to enable Muslim children

attain standards of the national education system in formal education subjects. The salient

features of SPQEM scheme are: -

i.To strengthen capacities in Madrasas for teaching of the formal curriculum subjects like

Science, Mathematics, Language, Social Studies etc. through enhanced payment of teacher

honorarium.

ii.Training of such teachers every two years in new pedagogical practices.

iii.Providing Science labs, Computer labs with annual maintenance costs in the secondary and

higher secondary stage madrasas.

iv.Provision of Science/Mathematics kits in primary/upper primary level madrassas.

v.Strengthening of libraries/book banks and providing teaching learning materials at all levels of

madrasas.

vi.The unique feature of this modified scheme is that it encourages linkage of Madrasas with

National Institute for Open Schooling (NIOS), as accredited centres for providing formal

education, which will enable children studying in such Madrasas to get certification for class 5,

8, 10 and 12. This will enable them to transit to higher studies and also ensure that quality

standards akin to the national education system. Registration & examination fees to the NIOS

will be covered under this scheme as also the teaching learning materials to be used.

vii.The NIOS linkage will be extended under this scheme for Vocational Education at the

secondary and higher secondary stage of Madrasas.

viii.For the monitoring and popularization of the scheme it will fund State Madrasa Boards. GoI

will itself run periodic evaluations, the first within two years.

SCHEMES

Department of Higher Education Department of School Education & Literacy

University and Higher Education

National Research Professorship (NRP)

Establishment of New Central

Universities

Indira Gandhi National Tribal University

Establishment of 14 World Class Central

Universities

Setting up of 374 Degree Colleges in

Educationally Backward Districts .

Scheme for incentivising state

governments for expansion of higher

education institutions

New central sector scheme of interest

subsity on educational loans taken by

students from economically backward

sections to pursue technical/professional

education in india under the educational

loan scheme of the indian banks’

association

Construction of girls hostels

Supporting uncovered state universities

and colleges

Additional assistance to about 160

already covered universities and about

5500 colleges

Strengthening science based higher

education and research in universities

Inter universities research institute for

policy and evaluation

Schemes Implemented through

Elementary Education

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Mid Day Meal

Strengthening of Teachers Training

Institute

Schemes for Infrastucture Development

of Private Aided/Unaided Minority

Institutes (IDMI)

Mahila Samakhya

Strengthening for providing quality

Education in Madrassas ( SPQEM)

Secondary Education

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

(RMSA)

Inclusive Education for Disable at

Secondary Stage ( IEDSS )

Incentives to Girls at Secondary Stage

National Merit cum Means Scholarship

Financial Assitance for Appointment of

language Teachers

Adolescene Education Programme

Girls Hostel

Model School

ICT at School

Vocationalisation of Secondary

Education

Model School Under Public- Private

Partnership(PPP) Mode.

Autonomous Organisations

Technical Education

Sub-Mission on Polytechnics under the

Coordinated Action for Skill

Development

Scheme of Apprenticeship Training

Support For Distance Education & Web

Based Learning (NPTEL)

Indian National Digital Library in

Engineering, Science & Technology

(INDEST-AICTE) Consortium

National Programme of Earthquake

Engineering Education (NPEEE)

Technology Development Mission

Direct Admission of Students Abroad

Scheme for Upgrading existing

Polytechnics to Integrate the Physically

Disabled in the mainstream of Technical

and Vocational Education

Setting up 20 new IIITs

Adult Education

o Saakshar Bharat o State Resource Center (SRCs) o Jan Shikshan Sansthans(JSSs) o Assistance to Voluntary

Agencies

Teacher Education

Centrally Sponsored Scheme

SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED THROUGH AUTONOMOUS ORGANISATIONS

1. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

The University Grants Commission is a statutory organization established under the

University Grants Commission Act, 1956, for the coordination, determination and

maintenance of standards of higher education. Apart from providing grants to

Universities and Colleges, the Commission also advises the Central and State

Governments on the measures which are necessary for the development of higher

education.

Schemes of UGC

Enhancing Aggregate Access - General Development Grants to Colleges All the eligible

colleges, recognized under 2 (f) and 23 B of the UGC Act 1956, are being financially

supported for the development of under-graduate and post-graduate education in colleges.

The main objectives of Development Assistance Programme are to: o Strengthen basic

infrastructure and meet their basic needs like books and journals, scientific equipment,

staff, campus development, teaching aids etc. required for proper functioning. o Provide

special assistance to colleges catering to the needs of marginalized groups. o Develop

colleges situated in the backward /rural /hilly areas with a view to remove or reduce

disparities and regional imbalances, o Support financially the uncovered State colleges.

General Development Grant for Universities

The University Grants Commission supports the universities and colleges for their

development by making budgetary Plan provisions for various programmes during the XI

Plan. Assistance to Central and eligible Deemed Universities is being provided both

under Plan and Non-Plan budgetary provisions. Assistance to state universities and their

affiliated colleges is being provided only under Plan schemes. Under the scheme, Grants

is provided to eligible Universities under the following categories:- Central Universities

State Universities Deemed-to-be Universities

Development grants to Management Departments in Universities.

The UGC provides financial assistance to universities for the development of

departments of management education for meeting the ever growing challenges due to

commercialization and internationalization of higher education.

Equity in Education

Gender Equity

• Construction of Women Hostels for Colleges

In order to provide a residential space for the women students/researchers/teachers and

other staff, the UGC runs a special scheme for construction of women hostels. This

scheme provides hostels and other infrastructural facilities to achieve the goal of

enhancing the status of women and harness the potential availability for the development

of the society at large, as also to bring about gender equity and call representation of

women.

Development of Women’s Studies in Universities and Colleges

In order to stimulate knowledge and awareness about women through transmission

teaching, research and documentation, this scheme envisages assistance to Universities

for setting up women study centres as well as to strengthen and sustain the university

women study centres set up till the conclusion of the X Plan. This would be done by

establishing them as statutory departments in the university system, as also to facilitate

thereon capacity to network with other constituents so that they mutually reinforce as

well as synergize one and another.

• Capacity Building for Women Manager in Higher Education

The overall goal is to facilitate women faculty, administrators and staff to increase the

participation of women in higher education management for better general balance, to

sensitize the higher education system through policies and procedures which recognize

women equity and diversity and to involve the women capable of becoming

administrators for the qualitative development of higher education. During XI Plan, three

approaches have been adopted namely

• To offer training programmes focused on increasing sensitivity to issues concerning

women becoming managers. • To make it a women’s movement. • To involve Vice-

Chancellors of the universities or Principals of the concerned colleges for the

development of the programme.

Social Group Equity

Establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells

To make colleges and universities more responsive to the needs and constraints of

disadvantaged social groups, the UGC has financed institutionsto establish Equal

Opportunity Cells in colleges and Universities to oversee the effective implementation of

policies and programmes for disadvantaged groups and to provide guidance and

counseling in academic, financial, social and other matters.

Schemes for Promotion of Higher Education for SC/ST/Minorities

The UGC is running some more schemes to promote Higher Education among the

socially deprived sections like SC/ST/Minorities. These schemes are:-

• Residential Coaching Academy for Minorities and SC/ST/Women • Post-Doctoral

Fellowships for SC/ST • Post-Graduate Scholarships for SC/ST Students in Professional

Courses • Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowships for SC/ST

The main objective of these schemes is to prepare students belonging to SC/ST/Minority

communities to enable them to compete various examinations for recruitment in services

covered under Central and State Governments, public undertakings etc by coaching them.

Quality and Excellence

Autonomous Colleges

To improve the quality of under-graduate education by delinking most of the colleges

from the affiliating structure and to promote the concept of autonomy, the UGC has been

regularly supporting potential colleges by providing grants. College autonomy was also

recommended by the Education Commission (1964-66) as an instrument for promoting

academic excellence.

Universities with Potential for Excellence

To achieve excellence in teaching and research, the UGC assisted some identified

universities for granting the status of “University with Potential for Excellence”.

Colleges with Potential for Excellence

To achieve excellence mainly in teaching and inculcate a research culture in them, the

Commission has initiated the scheme of “College with Potential for Excellence”. It

intends to identify potential colleges across the country and to support them financially to

improve their academic/physical infrastructure, adopt innovation in teaching, modern

methods and learning/evaluation, and to enhance the quality of the learning and teaching

process by introducing a flexible credit based systems. The colleges which are 10 years

old or more and accredited by NAAC are eligible for the status of CPE. Preference is

given to autonomous colleges.

Special Assistance Programme(SAP)

The Special Assistance Programme (SAP) of the UGC identifies and supports university

departments that have the potential to undertake quality teaching and research in various

educational disciplines including allied disciplines and can take up programmes relevant

to the societal needs of the country. The selected departments are eligible for financial

support from the UGC.

Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure for Humanities and Social Sciences

(ASIHSS)

The programme has been introduced to assist selected high quality Humanities and Social

Sciences departments in the Universities to enable them to develop infrastructure in order

to attain excellence in post-graduate education and research.

Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure for Science and Technology (ASIST)

The scheme is aimed to assist selected Science and Technology Departments in

Universities with proven high quality performance to acquire costly major equipments

which cannot be provided out of SAP grants or general development grants, so that the

attainment of excellence in post-graduate education and research in the department is not

handicapped due to non-availability of such equipments.

Academic Staff Colleges

Academic Staff Colleges have been set up in the university system for conducting

specially designed orientation programmes for newly appointed teachers and Refresher

Courses for in-service teachers. Some universities and specialized institutions have also

been identified as UGC-Refresher Course Centres (UGC-RCC).

Travel Grant

The UGC provides financial support to college teachers, Vice-Chancellors and the

Commission Members for presenting their research papers in International Conferences

abroad for enriching their knowledge for further research and exposure to the higher

education sector of the host countries.

The UGC also provides travel grant, to enable the university/college teachers to collect

source material and availing of fellowships.

Inter University Centres.

The UGC establishes autonomous Inter-University Centres within the university system

under Clause 12(ccc) of the UGC Act. The objectives for setting up these centres are:

o To provide common advanced centralized facilities/services for universities which are

not able to invest heavy investment in infrastructure and other inputs. o To play a vital

role in offering the best expertise in each field to teachers and researchers across the

country. o To provide access for research and teaching community to the state-of-the-art

equipment and excellent library facilities which are comparable to international

standards.

National facilities

Besides the Inter-University Centres, the UGC has also created Centres of National

Facilities for serving as resource centres. These Centres are also regularly financed by the

UGC.

Teaching and Research in Innovative / Emerging Areas

The main objectives of the programme are to identify areas in various disciplines with

respect to educational, national and global priorities, to encourage new ideas and

innovations, to identify institutions and support them to develop specialized courses at

under-graduate and post-graduate levels in emerging areas and accommodate brilliant and

innovative ideas which influence teaching, research, academic excellence, societal

development of relevance etc..

Faculty Improvement Programme(FIP)

The programme aims at enhancing the academic and intellectual environment in the

institutions by providing faculty members with enough opportunities to pursue research

and also to participate in seminars/conferences/workshops for updating their research and

pedagogical skills.

Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad (PIHEAD)

Under the PIHEAD, the UGC has embarked upon a focused nationally coordinated

programme to attract international students and to promote Indian Institutions to offer

programmes abroad.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

This UGC initiative is meant to create awareness and put in place an enabling policy

environment, proper structures and processes and also provide financial assistance to

enable researchers to promote their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). This scheme

dovetails with all existing initiatives/ongoing activities of various agencies and shall have

strong linkages with patent/copyright offices.

Bilateral Exchange Programmes

UGC has been implementing the Bilateral Exchange Programmes between India and

other countries connected with University Sector.

National Level Test for Teaching and Research

The UGC conducts a national level test across the country to determine eligibility for

lecturership and JRFs in order to ensure minimum standards for appointment to teaching

and research positions. On behalf of UGC, the CSIR conducts national level examination

testing in science subjects. The candidates who qualified for JRF can pursue research in

the UGC recognized universities, institutes and centres.

Research Awards /Projects/Fellowships/Scholarships

Major and Minor Research Projects

To promote excellence in research in higher education by supporting research

programmes of University and College teachers in all disciplines, the UGC provides

financial support to permanent working or retired teachers in the universities and

colleges.

Research Awards to Teachers

Under this scheme, the UGC provides full salary of the awardees to the respective

institutions, and research grant in Humanities, Social Sciences , Science and Engineering

& Technology to meet the expenditure on books, journals, chemicals and equipment.

Emeritus Fellowships

The Scheme of Emeritus Fellowships provides opportunities to the highly qualified,

experienced and superannuated teachers of universities, colleges and institutions

approved under sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, actively engaged in research and

teaching programmes of the universities/institutions, deemed universities in the preceding

years to undertake research.

Research Workshops, Seminars and Conferences

Financial assistance to Universities and Colleges is provided by UGC for organizing

programmes such as research workshops, seminars and conferences etc. both at national

and international level. The UGC also provides financial assistance to Indian National

Science Congress, Indian Social Science Congress etc.

Post-doctoral Fellowships for Women

The scheme is for the unemployed women candidates holding Ph.D. degree in their

respective subject areas with an aim to accelerate the talented instincts of the women

candidates to carry out the advanced studies and research.

Part-time Research Associateship is awarded annually to women upto 50 years of age

with Ph.D. degrees and aptitude for independent research work in any field of Humanities

and Social Sciences including languages and Engineering and Technology.

Research Fellowships (JRFs) for Foreign Nationals

The UGC awards 20 Junior Research Fellowships and 7 Research Associateships every

year to foreign students and teachers from the developing countries of Asia, Africa and

Latin America to undertake advanced studies and research in Sciences, Humanities and

Social Sciences leading to M.Phil./Ph.D. and Post Doctoral degrees in Indian

Universities.

Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs) for Indian Nationals

Under this scheme, students/research scholars who have qualified national level tests

conducted by the UGC/UGC-CSIR/ SET are awarded fellowships to pursue research

leading to M.Phil./Ph.D. degrees in various disciplines.

Engineering & Technology JRFs

The University Grants Commission selects candidates each year through direct interviews

for the award of Junior Research Fellowships in the disciplines of Engineering &

Technology.

The scheme is meant for providing an opportunity to research scholars to undertake

advanced study and research in engineering and technology, and agricultural engineering

leading to Ph.D. Since the National Education Testing (NET) examinations in these fields

are not conducted , M.E. and M.Tech. students are given this opportunity through direct

interview conducted by the Commission.

Research Fellowships in Sciences for Meritorious Students.

The objective of the scheme is to provide an opportunity to meritorious candidates to

undertake advanced studies and research leading to Ph.D. degrees in Sciences. The

candidates who have been registered for Ph.D. in Science subjects in Universities with

Potential For Excellence (UPE)/Centres with Potential with Excellence (CPE)/Centres of

Advanced Studies (CAS) and Departments of Special Assistance (DSA) identified by

UGC under SAP are eligible.

Ø Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowships for SC/ST

To minimize the social disparities in the field of higher education, the UGC provides

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowships for SC/ST candidates to undertake advanced studies

and research leading to M.Phil/Ph.D. degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social

Sciences including languages and Engineering & Technology.

Post-Graduate Scholarships to ME/M.Tech. Students

To help graduates students to pursue higher technical education, the UGC has been

providing post-graduate scholarships to students admitted to M.E./M.Tech. courses.

Post-Graduate Scholarships for SC/ST Candidates pursuing professional courses in

university and colleges

Keeping in view the social background of the candidates from deprived sections of the

society, the UGC initiated this scheme to provide them an opportunity to undertake post-

graduate level studies.

PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders and Indira Gandhi PG Scholarship for

Single Girl Child

The objective of the Indira Gandhi PG Scholarship for Single Girl Child scheme is to

support through scholarship, any girl student who happens to be the only child in her

family and also to provide incentives for the parents to observe small family norms.

The objective of the scheme of PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders is to

attract talent for pursuing PG students in basic subjects.

Dr. D. S. Kothari Post-doctoral Fellowship

A new scheme of Post-Doctoral Fellowships named after Dr. D.S.Kothari is going to be

operated through Application Process Outsouring (APO) and supervised by a dedicated

senior academic. The objective of this Fellowship is to groom young researchers for

launching an academic or research career and to provide an opportunity to acquire skills,

broaden one’s horizon and to offer a platform for transiting into cross-disciplinary areas.

Relevance and Value Based Education

Area Studies Programme

This scheme is meant to promote holistic understanding of the area including its cultural,

social, economic and strategic specificities, to promote an alternative paradigm of area

studies from the perspective of postcolonial societies and to contribute towards Indian

perspectives of the region and issues.

Introduction of Career Oriented Courses in Universities and Colleges

The objective of the scheme is to introduce career and market-oriented, skill enhancing

add-on courses that have utility for job, self-employment and empowerment of the

students.

Centres for Studies in Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy.

The objectives of the programme are:-

• Developing understanding of the nature and dynamics of discrimination and exclusion. •

Contextualizing discrimination, exclusion and inclusion. • Developing an understanding

of discrimination at an empirical level. • Formulating policies for protecting the rights of

these groups and eradicating the problem of exclusion and discrimination. • Studying

civil society movements and efforts to overcome social exclusion.

• Special Studies on Social Thinkers and Leaders

The scheme is aimed to acquaint teachers and students in universities and colleges with

the thoughts and actions of great thinkers and social leaders and to involve them in

research studies so that the society is reconstructed based on moral ethical and spiritual

foundation necessary for a non-violent social order.

Adult, Continuing Education and Extension.

With a view to meet the demands of emerging knowledge society and facilitate the

process of developing a learning society, maximum priority to lifelong learning is

accorded by the UGC.

Human Rights Education

The programme of Human Rights Education has three components namely, (a) Human

Rights and Duties, (b) Human Rights and Values and (c) Human Rights and Human

Development. The objectives of the programme are:

• To humanize and democratize all power relations through restructuring of rights and

duties. • To create awareness and commitment to values where the individualistic self-

interest is properly reconciled and the collective and common good. • To search for

universal values in a globalizing but fragmented world. • To promote and sustain the

values like pluralism, respect for all religions, scientific temper, open mind, public

reasoning etc. • To promote and enforcement of rights and to envision rights approach to

development by the States.

Integration of Information and Communication Technologies

Digital Repository in Universities and Colleges

This programme provides electronic access to the Universities to scholarly literature

through internet. All universities which come under the UGC’s purview are members of

the programme. The programme is coordinated and executed by Information and Library

Network (INFLIBNET) Centre, Ahmedabad. .

UGC-Infonet Internet Connectivity

Many universities have been provided Internet bandwidth ranging from 256 kbps to 2

Mbps since the launch of UGC-Infonet Internet Connectivity Programme in 2002. The

task of establishing and maintaining the entire network is being done by the ERNET

India Ltd. on turnkey basis.

Establishment or Upgradation of Computer Centre in Universities

Under this scheme, assistance is being provided for setting up / upgradation of Computer

Centres of the Universities for use in research and training, application of computer in

every field/subject and examination/administrative related work. The assistance is for

campus, LAN, net-working equipment, software, site preparation etc.

Governance and Efficiency Improvement

Incentives for Resource Mobilization

The objectives of the scheme are :-

o To encourage universities to mobilise resources by participation/contribution of society

in their development. o To encourage and enhance flow of resources from the society for

university development. o To encourage universities to provide consultancy on payment

basis not only to the industries but also to the Government and other bodies and society at

large on vital issues of national importance. o To provide incentives to the universities

which involve society in their developmental activities.

Training for Academic Administrators of Universities, Colleges and UGC Officers.

In order to train academic administrators of Universities, Colleges and UGC officers in

matters of academic administration, the UGC addresses the issue of improved governance

by creation of a structured system to impart training and development opportunities.

New Initiatives of UGC

Operation ‘Faculty Recharge’

The intent of the programme is to strengthen high quality research in science related

disciplines at an internationally competitive level and promote innovative teaching in the

universities through induction of fresh talent, at all levels of academic hierarchy, in

selected departments/centers. For details of UGC Schemes, please click www.ugc.ac.in.

Apart from the UGC, following Autonomous organizations are given Grants by the

Ministry to implement various schemes.

2. INDIAN COUNCIL OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH 3. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDY (IIAS) 4. INDIAN COUNCIL OF PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH (ICPR) 5. PROJECT OF HISTORY OF INDIAN SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY & CULTURE 6. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RURAL INSTITUTES (NCRI) 7. SHASTRI INDO CANADIAN INSTITUTE (SICI) 8. DR. ZAKIR HUSSAIN MEMORIAL COLLEGE TRUST 9. ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) - External website that opens in a new window is a Government

of India flagship programme for achievement of Universalisation of Elementary Education

(UEE) - External website that opens in a new window.

The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling

facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class

rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants. SSA has a

special focus on girl's education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide

computer education to bridge the digital divide.

SSA Information System - External website that opens in a new window

School Report Cards - External website that opens in a new window

Education for All

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Aiming at enhancing enrollment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving

nutritional levels among children, the Mid-Day Meal - External website that opens in a new

window (MDM) is the world's largest school feeding programme, reaching out to about 12 crore

children in over 9.50 lakh schools/EGS centres across the country.

MDM Guidelines - External website that opens in a new window

Guidelines for prescription of nutritious MDM (1.33 MB) - PDF file that opens in a new

window

Secondary Education

Secondary Education - External website that opens in a new window begins from class 9, leading

to higher secondary education in classes 11 and 12. This crucial stage develops competency in

children, which prepares them for higher education and for the professional life.

Following the Constitutional mandate to Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) -

External website that opens in a new window, and success of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan - External

website that opens in a new window, it has become essential to move towards universalisation of

secondary education.

Schemes under this are:

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) - External website that opens in a new

window

Girls Hostel Scheme - External website that opens in a new window

Model School Scheme - External website that opens in a new window

Information And Communication Technology In Schools

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship

Adolescence Education Programme - External website that opens in a new window

Higher Education

Higher Education - External website that opens in a new window starts after class 12. Major

policy decisions relating to higher education in the country are taken by the Central Government.

It provides grants to University Grant Commission - External website that opens in a new

window (UGC) and establishes central universities in the country. The Central Government is

also responsible for declaration of Education Institutions as 'Deemed to be University' on the

recommendation of the UGC - External website that opens in a new window. And, State

Governments are responsible for establishment of State Universities and colleges.

Schemes related to Universities & Higher Education - External website that opens in a

new window

Schemes related to Technical Education - External website that opens in a new window

Adult Education

Literacy among adults has been recognized as a crucial input for nation building. The National

Literacy Mission - External website that opens in a new window was set up on 5th May, 1988 to

impart a new sense of urgency and seriousness to adult education. Some of the other initiatives

under adult education are:

Saakshar Bharat - External website that opens in a new window

Innovative Proposals in the field of Adult Education - External website that opens in a

new window

Scheme of Support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development -

External website that opens in a new window

Directorate of Adult Education