The University Grants Commission (UGC) today released Rs 255 crore for upgradation of universities and educational institutes in Andhra Pradesh.
The funds were released under four components with the highest share going to Rajahmundry Government College, an autonomous institution. A sum of Rs 55 crore was sanctioned to upgrade the college from an autonomous body to a university, a Government release said here.
Recognising the historical and academic excellence of the 160-year old institution, UGC said the college has potential for excellence. Several well-known personalities have been associated with the college.
These include former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who worked as a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy, and Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, a social reformer who was associated with Telugu Department.
The UGC has sanctioned Rs 20 crore each for Andhra University, Sri Venkateshwara University, Acharya Nagarjuna University and Sri Krishnadevaraya University for upgradation of infrastructure.
Further, Rs 12 crore each has been sanctioned to upgrade Pathapatnam College in Srikakulam and Cheepurupalli College in Vizianagaram, with an aim to make them model institutes.
The Commission has also sanctioned Rs 96 crore as grants (Rs 2 crore each) for 48 colleges which have completed NAAC "second cycle" (related to assessment), it was stated.
The UGC is a statutory body of the Central Government that looks after coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
