PM Modi: Will make top 20 varsities world-class

Patna: Lamenting that no Indian university figures among the top 500 globally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government intends to unshackle these institutions and provide Rs 10,000 crore to 20 varsities to ensure that they are counted among the best in the world.

Addressing a function on the centenary celebrations of the Patna University here in presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Modi said measures like grant of central status were "a thing of the past" and his government has taken "a step forward" towards making 10 private universities and 10 government ones world class.

"We are not among the top 500. We should remove this blot or not. The situation should change through our determination and hard work," Modi said. He said the government has come out with a scheme to make 10 private and 10 public universities world-class by providing them autonomy from the constraints of government rules and freedom to grow.

"They will be given Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years," he said. The Prime Minister said the selection will not be on any recommendation. "The universities will be a selected on the basis of a challenge in which they will be required to prove their mettle. The selection will be based on factors such as history, performance and its roadmap reach global benchmarks. A third party professional agency will be involved in the selection process," Modi said.

Referring to demands for making Patna University a central university, Modi said it should strive to be among the globally-ranked varsity based on the competition and "this was many times ahead of being a central university". "Patna University should not stay behind (in the challenge)," he said.

Modi said reforms in the country's education sector have progressed at a slow speed and there have been differences among educationists which had hampered innovation with the governments too not measuring up to the task.

The Prime Minister said that for two years he heard arguments for and against granting more autonomy to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and then a big decision was taken. "It is for the first time that the IIMs are out of government control and have been professionally opened up. This is a big opportunity for them and they would make the best use," he said.

Modi said that Patna University was known to produce IAS and IPS officers and in the same manner IIMs are known to produce Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of global companies. He also urged universities to move from conventional teaching to innovative learning and involve alumni associations more actively.

"The commitment of Nitish Kumar towards the progress of Bihar is commendable. The Centre attaches topmost importance to the development of eastern India," Modi said. He said when the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of Independence Day in 2022, he wants to see Bihar standing among the list of prosperous states.