NITI Aayog indentified 117 districts as Aspirational Districts for RUSA Scheme

Rashtriya-Uchchatar-Shiksha-Abhiyan

Question: Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in the year–
(a)2014
(b)2016
(c)2017
(d)2013
Answer-(d)

According to PIB press release on 6 august 2018, NITI Aayog has identified 117 districts as ‘Aspirational Districts’ under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

  • Criteria of the Selection–

These districts have been selected on the basis of composite index which includes published data of deprivation enumerated under Socio-Economic Caste Census, Health & Nutrition, Education and Basic Infrastructure.

  • Following are the features of this Scheme:
  • New Model Degree Colleges (MDCs): These will be set up in‘Aspirational ’
  • Central assistance to States: It has been provided for creation of one Model Degree College each in 60 Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs) including 8 in Odisha.
  • The Project Approval Board (PAB) of RUSA- It has approved central supports for one MDC each in 70 such districts including 6 in Odisha.
  • An Expert Committee constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) – It had identified 374 Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs) where Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education was less than the national average of 4% based on 2001 census data.

RUSA Scheme:

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. The central funding (in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States, 90:10 for special category states and 100% for union territories) would be norm based and outcome dependent. The funding would flow from the central ministry through the state governments/union territories to the State Higher Education Councils before reaching the identified institutions. The funding to states would be made on the basis of critical appraisal of State Higher Education Plans, which would describe each state’s strategy to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher education.

See also the links below:-
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=181574
http://mhrd.gov.in/rusa