UP Has Almost Thousand Of 7,000 Colleges In India

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) India is one short of 7,000 colleges, a fourth of them in just two States, Parliament was told today.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari informed the Rajya Sabha that there were 6,999 recognised colleges across the country as of September 30.

These included 4,961 private colleges and 2,038 government-owned colleges recognised by the University Grants Commission.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest number, 980, recognised colleges, followed by Maharashtra, 917, Karnataka, 591, Andhra Pradesh, 450 , and Madhya Pradesh, 445.

She said private colleges permanently affiliated to State universities and getting maintenance grants-- under Salary head-- from the State government are also eligible for UGC grants.

She said 3,904 private colleges were eligible to receive grants from the UGC.

Eligible colleges are provided grants for development as well as improvement of education quality under the UGC's scheme of 'Colleges with Potential for Excellence'.

UNI MJ RR BD2335