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