Jadavpur University has received in-principle approval for a ₹250 crore contribution from the West Bengal government over five years, a decision that could unlock a further ₹1,000 crore from the University Grants Commission for the university’s academic and research infrastructure.
Vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said the university had been informed of the approval, while a higher education department official confirmed that the department had sent the communication. The letter was received on September 10, after Debajit Dutta was appointed as the university’s new acting registrar.
The funding is linked to Jadavpur University’s selection under the Institute of Eminence programme in 2018. The UGC had earlier indicated that it would provide ₹1,000 crore if the state government supplied a matching grant. The then state government had opposed that condition and argued that the responsibility for funding should rest with the UGC.
The state budget presented on June 22 announced that Jadavpur University would be developed as an institute of excellence, with a central government contribution of ₹1,000 crore and a state share of ₹250 crore spread over five years. A higher education department official clarified that Institute of Excellence and Institute of Eminence refer to the same programme.
The university has already started preparations for implementing the scheme. On Wednesday, it formed a 10-member committee to coordinate, oversee and undertake work under the programme. Bhattacharjee said the committee would focus on strengthening the university’s academic resources and overall development and would prepare a primary detailed project report.
“This will help us in implementing the scheme once the UGC releases the fund,” Bhattacharjee said. The next step for the university is to approach the UGC for approval of its share of ₹1,000 crore, which had earlier been allocated under the Institute of Eminence scheme, Dutta said.
Bhattacharjee said the state government had informed the university that it would release its contribution after the UGC released its share. If both contributions are made, Jadavpur University could receive a total of ₹1,250 crore over the five-year period.
The vice-chancellor said the funding would provide a significant boost to academic and research infrastructure at a time when the university was facing resource constraints. He also said Jadavpur University continued to be ranked as the country’s best state university in an annual ranking exercise by the education ministry, despite those constraints.
“If ₹1,250 crore comes to the university, it will be a big help in overhauling the academic infrastructure and improving the academic atmosphere,” Bhattacharjee said. He added that effective use of the funds could help the university achieve greater academic progress.
Several university officials said the development could help Jadavpur University secure the status it had not obtained over the past eight years. The state government’s approval comes amid a standoff between the government and a section of students and teachers following alleged campus vandalism on August 20. The university’s committee will prepare the initial project report as it awaits the UGC’s decision on releasing its contribution.
