Education Ministry dismisses claims of discrepancy in hostel allotment at central universities

The Ministry of Education on Feb 3 dismissed claims of any discrepancy with regard to the allotment of hostels to students in central universities.

In response to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said there are clear rules and guidelines for hostel allotment, ensuring a fair and merit-based process.

“No discrepancy in the allotment of hostels to students in central universities has come to the notice of the government. Central universities are autonomous bodies, established by Acts of Parliament and governed by provisions of their respective Acts, Statues, and Ordinances made thereunder," Majumdar said.

“The allotment of hostels is done by the universities as per their respective rules, regulations and ordinances. There are established norms and guidelines for hostel allotment in central universities, ensuring a transparent, merit-based and equitable allocation process," he added.

Majumdar said that students are given priority for hostel allotment based on factors like their distance from home, academic performance, social category, and the special needs of differently abled students.

UGC grants to Delhi University in last 5 years remain unchanged

On Feb 3, the Ministry of Education informed Lok Sabha that there has been no reduction in the UGC grants given to Delhi University in the past five years.

Majumdar explained that the Ministry provides block grants to the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the “Grants to Central Universities" scheme. The UGC then allocates funds to central universities, including Delhi University, based on their needs and the funds used in previous years.

The minister shared the grant details for Delhi University over the past five years. The university received Rs 955 crore in 2023-24, ₹812 crore in 2022-23, ₹ 670 crore in 2021-22, ₹628 crore in 2020-21, and ₹607 crore in 2019-20.

“It is evident that there is no decline in grants released to the University of Delhi," Majumdar said.