EWS Quota: Central Institutions Seek Rs 5,600 Crore To Implement Plan, 1.2 Lakh More Seats In Next Academic Session 

The Union Cabinet approved the 10 per cent EWS quota on 7 January, and the Human Resources Development Ministry had notified its implementation across all central institutions on 17 January.

The implementation plan prepared by the central institutions on 31 January though projects the capacity expansion will cost the government around Rs 5,600 crore, reports Indian Express.

Of Rs 5,600 crore, Rs 2,682 crore was for Central universities, followed by Rs 1,094 crore for IITs, and Rs 1,001 crore for NITs.

However, this cost is reportedly much more than the estimate of Rs 4,200 crore initially prepared by the HRD Ministry.

Centrally funded institutions such as IITs, IIMs, Central universities, NITs and IIITs, would collectively add almost 1.2 lakh seats in the new academic session.

In a bid to implement the quota, all central institutions were asked to increase their intake over two years without reducing the existing number of seats for SC, ST, OBC and general category students.

This increase was pegged at 25 per cent by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar in a press conference held last month.

Of the amount sought, Rs 3,830 crore is reportedly for building new infrastructure, Rs 723 crore for salaries on account of hiring more teachers, and the remaining for fellowships meant for the added intake.

The Interim Budget, 2019, has earmarked close to Rs 4,600 crore for implementing the 10 per cent reservation for the poor in general category in central educational institutions and for Higher Education Financial Agency (HEFA) equity.