Union Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme in Odisha.
In a letter, Pradhan informed Patnaik about the significance of the centrally sponsored scheme to improve higher education in the State.
“The PM-USHA scheme is an important step of Central Government towards implementation the vision of National Education Policy, 2020 to attain higher levels of access, equity and excellence in the States/UTs higher education system by prioritising the un-served and undeserved areas, to be identified by States/UTs as Focus Districts on the basis of low GER, population of SC / ST, Left-wing-affected areas, etc,†Pradhan wrote.
As per the guidelines of the scheme, the States and UTs are required to sign an MoU for on-boarding the scheme for its implementation.
He wrote that Odisha has shown active participation in the previous phases of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and has been successful in using the support under the scheme to improve higher education in the State.
“However, an MoU under new phase of scheme, i.e., PM-USHA, is yet to be signed by the State of Odisha,†Pradhan wrote.
The scheme has been approved till March 31, 2026 with a total outlay of Rs 12,926.10 crore in continuation of the RUSA scheme.
