-Dipta Joshi

The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) central universities witnessed over 14 percent reduction in central government funding in fiscal 2021-22 in comparison to the previous year. While the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has received the least amount of funding since 2014-15, the Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) funding doubled and the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Itanagar witnessed almost 250 percent rise since then.

The information on funding for the above five central universities was given by the Minister of Education, Subhas Sarkar in the Lok Sabha on July 18. The minister was replying to a question by TN Prathapan, the Congress’ Member of Parliament (MP) from Kerala. Prathapan had asked about the details of funds allocation to the five central universities since 2014-15.

AMU’s overall allocation increased from Rs 673.98 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1520.10 crore in 2020-21. However, in 2021-22, the budgetary allocation was down by Rs 306 crore to Rs 1214.63 crore registering a drop of over 20 percent in funds allocation as compared to the previous year. The university has received Rs 302.32 crore for the first quarter (April-June) of this fiscal (2022-23).

JMU too saw an increase in funding from Rs 264.48 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 479.83 crore in 2020-21. In 2021-22 however, the university received Rs 411.10 crore. The fall of Rs 68.73 crore is a dip of over 14 percent in the funds it received as compared to the previous year. The university has received Rs 105.95 crore budgetary allocations for the first quarter (April-June) of this fiscal (2022-23).

The BHU and RGU however have seen a rise in their fortunes. BHU’s funding of Rs 669.51 crore in 2014-15 almost doubled to Rs 1303.01 crore in 2021-22. RGU’s funding showed a significant rise from Rs 39.93 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 102.79 crore in 2021-22.  

JNU, which is considered a hotbed of student politics with a reputation for being anti-establishment, has received the least amount of annual funding from the central government  over the past seven years. From the Rs 336.91 crore funding in 2014-15, the university has witnessed an increase of just Rs 70 crore until fiscal 2021-22 when it stood at Rs 407.47 crore.    

The minister did not share details of the quarterly allocation made towards BHU, RGU and JNU.

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