Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini today reviewed the Higher Education Department’s five-year roadmap and action plan under “Haryana Vision-2047” at the Haryana Civil Secretariat. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the progress of ongoing schemes, budget announcements and Chief Minister’s announcements aimed at making higher education more modern, quality-oriented, employment-focused and aligned with global standards.
Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Sh. A.K. Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Future, Amneet P. Kumar, Director General, Higher Education Department, Sh. S. Narayanan, OSD to the Chief Minister and Director General, Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management, Dr. Raj Nehru, along with other senior officers, were also present on the occasion.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that 22 Model Sanskriti Colleges in the state are being developed as autonomous institutions. Modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, digital libraries and technology-enabled learning facilities are being expanded in these colleges.
The Chief Minister directed that all under-construction college buildings and academic projects be completed within the stipulated timeline while maintaining high quality standards. To promote the gloablisation of higher education, the state has set a target of bringing its educational institutions among the top 150 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Efforts are being made to strengthen collaborations with foreign universities, student exchange programmes, research activities and a culture of patent generation. The Chief Minister directed officials to improve university rankings, encourage research and innovation, and ensure the speedy recruitment of faculty against vacant posts.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the “Autonomous AI Digital College” initiative. These institutions, proposed to be established in Panchkula and Gurugram, will function on an AI-based modern learning system.
The Chief Minister said that preparing students for future technologies is the need of the hour. It was also informed that tuition fees for girl students pursuing undergraduate courses in government colleges have been waived. The Chief Minister directed officials to closely monitor student dropout rates and take measures to bring such students back into the mainstream of education.
He further stressed that no student should be deprived of education due to financial constraints and directed that scholarship and other assistance schemes be made more effective. To promote research and innovation, the government is introducing 100 percent reimbursement of patent registration fees (up to a maximum of Rs. 50,000) and establishing a Rs. 10 crore Higher Education Quality and Research Fund.
Work is also underway to link NCC, NSS and sports activities with the Academic Credit Bank and to develop an integrated digital portal for internships, apprenticeships and placements. Reviewing the progress of various Chief Minister’s announcements, officials provided updates on educational infrastructure projects underway in Rewari, Narnaul and other regions.
It was also informed that science faculty classes have commenced at the Government Women College, Kairu, while the new Government College at Ramsaran Majra will become operational from the upcoming academic session. The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the process of providing scooters to meritorious girl students under the “Avval Balika Yojana.”
He further instructed that all schemes and projects be regularly monitored and implemented in a time-bound manner so that Haryana can emerge as a leading state in higher education, research and innovation.