Union Cabinet Approves Establishment Of Central University in Ladakh, Rs 750 Cr Allocated

The Union Cabinet has also approved the establishment of Ladakh Integrated Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (LIIDCO) in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Union Cabinet has also approved the establishment of Ladakh Integrated Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (LIIDCO) in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

“Two important decisions for Ladakh have been taken. The Cabinet has approved a Central University in Ladakh at a cost of Rs 750 crore and an integrated, multi-purpose corporation will be set up in Ladakh,” Union minister Anurag Thakur said during a media briefing.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the steps taken by the government to promote IT-based education.

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Pradhan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday said a comprehensive initiative called ‘PM eVIDYA’ has been initiated as part of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ on May 17, 2020, which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education.

He added the initiative includes DIKSHA (one nation, one digital platform)is the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for school education in states/UTs and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades are available on it; one earmarked Swayam Prabha TV channel per class from 1 to 12 (one class, one channel), extensive use of radio, community radio and CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani and special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube.

Pradhan said the UGC has in order to promote online education notified necessary regulation, which facilitates the universities to offer full-fledged Online Program.

“Further, the current provisions of 20 per cent Online courses in a programme, as per provisions of UGC SWAYAM and ODL Regulations to be enhanced up to maximum 40 per cent for implementation considering “National interest during COVID-19” and also to ensure effective utilization of e-resources,” he added.

Pradhan said various digital initiatives are also undertaken by Ministry of education viz. SWAYAM ("Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds"), SWAYAM Prabha, National Digital Library (NDL), Virtual Lab, e-Yantra, NEAT (National Education Alliance for technology), FOSSEE (Free Open-Source Software for Education) etc. to ensure quality education to the students.

The Union Education Minister said the CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd (CSC-SPV) of MEITY has been assigned the task of providing Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connectivity to the Government institutions, including schools, to improve the internet connectivity in rural areas.

Pradhan said the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a ‘Cyber Security Handbook’, which can be accessed at the link http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Manuals/Cyber_Safety_Manual.pdf., to ensure safe and healthy digital habits among students.

He further said that an Integrated Teacher Training Programme called NISHTHA has been launched it is a capacity building programme for “Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training”, adding NISHTHA can be accessed from the link https://itpd.ncert.gov.in// .