PM Usha Scheme 2024 : Benefits, (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan)

The Ministry of Education’s PM-USHA program is centrally supported and aims to improve both the quality and accessibility of postsecondary education nationwide. The PM-USHA program seeks to enhance the curriculum, infrastructure, employability, accreditation agencies and teacher preparation. In this post you get every necessary information regarding this scheme such as objective, eligibility, documents, benefits and applying procedure.

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PM Usha Scheme

The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) which was introduced in 2013 was replaced by PM-USHA. Enhancing teaching quality, emphasizing college and university accreditation and promoting equality, access and inclusion in higher education are the goals of the scheme.

States will provide the remaining 40% of the scheme’s funding with the central government providing the other 60%. The funds are being disbursed under two components of the scheme, the Multidisciplinary Education and Research institutions will receive Rs 100 crore and the institutions will receive Rs 20 crore for strengthening. 52 institutions will get funding under the second category while at least 26 state universities nationwide have been chosen under the former.

Overview Of PM Usha Scheme

Name of the scheme	PM Usha Scheme
Launched by	Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
Launched on	2013
Objective	To improve access to and the standard of higher learning nationwide
Official website	pmusha.education.gov.in

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Objective Of PM Usha Scheme

The main objective of this scheme is to raise access, equality and excellence standards in the State’s higher education system while increasing its effectiveness, responsiveness, transparency and accountability.

Benefits of PM Usha Scheme

• To raise the general quality of the state’s current higher education institutions by making sure they follow guidelines and standards and by using accreditation as a framework for quality control.
• Establish backward and forward links with school education and the labor market to promote self-reliance and ultimately create an Atma-Nirbhar Bharat. Ensure governance, academic and examination changes in State higher education institutions.
• Establish an environment that encourages higher education institutions to focus on research and innovation.

Challenges And Concerns

• Adopting different admission and departure choices in degree programs and following the national higher education qualifications framework criteria provide one of the major problems.
• Opponents claim that these actions might result in a rise in the number of students leaving higher education programs early. In addition, the focus on a four year undergraduate curriculum has sparked questions regarding accessibility and cost for students from low-income backgrounds.
• Even states that support NEP 2020 like Meghalaya have expressed issues with eligibility and financing requirements, particularly for universities that are only getting started.

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PM-USHA Scheme And NEP 2020 Integration

• The PM-USHA program seeks to give States financial assistance for enhancing their higher education infrastructure.
• In accordance with the June guidelines, States and Union Territories are required to execute NEP 2020 and adopt guidelines for the National Credit Framework and Choice Based Credit System for Four Year Undergraduate Program by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Higher Education.
• These requirements are necessary in order to get the Rs.12,926.10 crore that is allotted for 2023-2024 and 2025-2026. This is true even if State governments must provide 40% of the funds.

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Pillars Of PM-USHA Scheme

Equity, Access and Inclusion:

• Promoting equality and gender inclusion is a major focus of the program which makes sure that underprivileged people are given chances. In order to raise the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), it promotes the enrollment of women, minorities, SC/ST/OBC/Disabled persons and women in higher education. Diverse courses become more approachable by doing away with language barriers and promoting multilingualism that includes mother tongues and regional languages.

To develop quality teaching and learning process:

• Higher education institutions (HEIs) that currently only provide one stream of instruction will be able to change to multiple streams by using the facilities that PM-USHA will give to enhance the institution’s physical and digital infrastructure.
• The Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) and Multiple Entry and Exit System would all receive quick support and priority under PM-USHA in order to raise the standard of education.

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Improvement in recognition and accreditation of unrecognized institutions:

• A national accreditation body that guarantees the general efficacy and caliber of HEIs is the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
• In order to determine the quality status of the institution, NAAC evaluates and accredits HEIs such as colleges, universities and other acknowledged establishments.

ICT-based digital infrastructure:

• Students will be provided a virtual platform for their learning possibilities and will have access to ICT initiatives like the National Digital Library, DigiLocker, e-Shodh Sindhu and virtual laboratories.
• In order to improve teacher’s ability to use ICT technologies the plan will also prioritize the faculty development program.
• The establishment of ICT digital infrastructure under PM-USHA would incentivize educational institutions to offer virtual labs, smart classrooms and Wi-Fi on their campuses.

(PM-USHA) Nurturing Quality Higher Education And Innovation

• The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Scheme was renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in June 2023 to align with the National Education Policy.
• Its goals include adopting accreditation as a framework for quality assurance and improving the caliber of currently operating state-run higher education institutions by guaranteeing compliance to established norms and standards.
• In order to promote self-reliance and advance the concept of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat, the program seeks to bring about governance, academic and examination changes at these institutions. It also seeks to develop links between school education and the labor market.
• In addition, PM-USHA aims to develop an atmosphere in higher education that supports innovation and research.

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