The number of government and private colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has increased to more than 400. Cluster University will now be upgraded to a State University in the Chief Minister’s home district, Mandi.
It has been decided to make Cluster University Mandi as the second State University of Himachal Pradesh. Colleges of five to six districts of the state will have affiliation with this new state university. The Cabinet approved the constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Ramsubhag Singh to prepare the outline of the State University.
This decision of the government will reduce the burden of Shimla University. The number of government and private colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has exceeded 400. Now the cluster university will be upgraded to a state university in the Chief Minister’s home district Mandi. The Cabinet has included Vice Chancellors of Himachal Pradesh University Shimla and Cluster University Mandi and Education Secretary as members in the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to decide the roadmap for setting up the State University.
Departmental officials said that the Mandi Cluster University could include the colleges of Bilaspur, Kullu, Kangra, Lahaul Spiti including Mandi district. In order to reduce the burden of Himachal University and to provide quality higher education, the Central Government has approved the opening of cluster universities under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan. In the year 2014, a proposal to open a cluster university in Mandi was sent to the Centre.
Will get relief from commuting to Shimla
Since the formation of the state, the state university has been established only in Shimla. The geographical conditions of the state are not such that all the students of the state can reach Shimla for their studies. In such a situation, many students living in remote areas of the state are deprived of higher education. Due to limited seats in PG classes, many students are not able to take admission in Shimla. Due to this compulsion one has to take admission in private universities by paying hefty fees.
