NEW DELHI: In a major step towards improving quality of higher education and its expansion, the Centre on Friday approved Rs 5,000 crore to support 1012 higher educational institutions, which was described as “unprecedented” by HRD minister Prakash Javadekar.

“According to top priority to excellence, Rs 100 crore has been approved for 10 universities at Rs 10 crore each to enhance their quality and excellence. Similarly, Rs 85 crore for 17 colleges have been approved at Rs 5 crore each to improve their quality under RUSA,” he said. Under this grants for development, 70 New model degree colleges (MDCs) will be created in as many aspirational districts. In addition, 23 colleges in these districts will be upgraded to model degree college at Rs 4 crore each under RUSA.

The ministry has sanctioned seven new model degree colleges to Chhattisgarh at Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Korba and Mahasamund with a fund of Rs 12 crore each. Two new professional colleges at Palamau and Koderma at Rs 26 crore each have also been sanctioned.