New Delhi, Jul 28 (INB)More than 3.09 lakh students are currently enrolled in 47 Central universities under the administrative control of the Ministry of Education, the government has informed Lok Sabha. In a written reply, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on Monday said there are 57 operational Central universities in the country, of which 47, excluding the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), are under the administrative purview of the Ministry of Education. He said all Central universities are statutory autonomous institutions established through Acts of Parliament and are empowered to take administrative and academic decisions with the approval of their respective statutory bodies. The minister said all Central universities under the ministry, except Sindhu Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh, currently offer undergraduate programmes. A total of 3,09,542 students are enrolled in these 47 institutions, he added. Majumdar informed the House that two Central universities — Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana and Sindhu Central University in Ladakh — have been established during the last five years. He also highlighted sustainability measures undertaken by Central universities, including installation of rooftop solar power systems, solar water heaters, rainwater harvesting, wastewater and solid waste management, plantation drives and biodiversity conservation. The Ministry of Education has provided financial assistance to the Central University of Odisha for developing a green energy building, while Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Chhattisgarh has identified requirements for strengthening campus drainage, academic and residential infrastructure, and hostel facilities, the minister said.
