Elevate stature of higher education: Chief Secretary to HED

Srinagar, Oct 31: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Friday underscored the need for a comprehensive and futuristic roadmap to transform the higher education landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the sector, he called upon the Higher Education Department (HED) to formulate a 5–10year strategic plan aimed at elevating the stature of higher education and aligning it with contemporary academic, technological, and market needs.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Director, Colleges; Managing Director, RUSA; and other senior officers of the department.
Emphasizing the importance of relevance and innovation, the Chief Secretary urged the Department to revise the curriculum to make it more skill-oriented, industry-driven, and aspirational in outlook.
He stressed redesigning outdated courses and introducing new, market-driven programmes to ensure students are equipped for emerging employment opportunities.
He observed that the purpose of higher education is to create a futuristic, employable generation rather than one that struggles for opportunities post-graduation. He directed the Department to seek guidance from the Union Ministry of Education, NITI Aayog, and the Higher Education Council to strengthen policy alignment and institutional excellence.
The Chief Secretary also advised the Department to make human resource management a focal area of its reform strategy, ensuring that employees remain motivated, well-supported, and adequately trained to deliver effectively under all circumstances. He maintained that building institutional capacity and nurturing a capable workforce are critical for achieving the educational excellence.
Highlighting the Department’s progress, the ACS, Higher Education, Shantmanu, informed that significant strides have been made in infrastructure development, financial management, and student enrolment across the UT. He stated that the total enrolment in higher education institutions across J&K stands at 2,87,663 students, including 9,274 students in University of Jammu, 13,375 students in University of Kashmir, 1,98,392 students (UG + PG) enrolled in Government Degree Colleges and 56,644 students in Private Colleges across J&K.
The Department also highlighted its pioneering efforts in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, making J&K one of the first UTs to adopt the 4-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) with 58 major programmes under the 3+1 Honours model. The FYUGP framework features multiple entry-exit options and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), facilitating seamless mobility and credit transfers for students.
It was informed that the Department is prioritizing infrastructure expansion and modernization through a substantial capital expenditure plan. Out of the approved Capex budget of Rs 500 Cr, an amount of Rs 270.61 Cr has been released so far, with Rs 80.68 Cr expenditure recorded on BEAMS.
Against the target of 160 works, 30 have been completed to date. Major ongoing projects include construction/upgradation of 50 classrooms, 39 multi-purpose halls, 22 hostel blocks, 22 science blocks/labs, 19 auditoriums, and 10 administrative blocks.
Moreover it was divulged that 18 libraries are being digitized and RFID-tagged, 18 playgrounds are under development or upgradation, 9 research hubs are in progress, and 3 new library blocks are under construction.
Providing details of central schemes, the Department reported strong financial performance and steady project completion under RUSA and PM-USHA. As of October 30, 2025, out of 74 institutional/project targets across all phases (RUSA 1, RUSA 2, and PM-USHA), 38 projects have been completed, the meeting was apprised.
Additionally it was given out that against a total outlay of Rs 713.48 Cr, cumulative expenditure stands at Rs 430.40 Cr, reflecting an excellent 94% utilisation against funds released by the Central and UT Governments (Rs 455.88 Cr).
To ensure timely completion of ongoing projects by March 2026, the Department has projected an additional requirement of Rs 251.92 Cr from the Government of India.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to academic excellence and student-centric reform, the Chief Secretary directed the Department to adopt a mission-oriented approach, ensuring that higher education in J&K emerges as a model of quality, innovation, and employability in the years ahead.