Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, inaugurated a two-day National Workshop on Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in New Delhi on April 30, 2025 at ICAR.

The event saw participation from 64 Vice Chancellors, State Project Directors, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education, including Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Shri Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Additional Secretary; Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE; Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairperson, NETF; and Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Former UGC Chairman. Shri Armstrong Pame, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, delivered the vote of thanks.

In his address, Dr. Majumdar emphasized the transformative goals of NEP 2020, noting its focus on empowering youth, modernising education, and blending traditional Indian knowledge with global innovation. He said the workshop would provide vital guidance to universities and state agencies on aligning their goals with central and state funding under MERU.

He added that 35 universities will receive Rs 1 billion (Rs 100 crore) each to implement 44 activities outlined under the MERU framework. Calling for collective commitment, Dr. Majumdar urged all institutions to work towards building a “Viksit Bharat by 2047”—a future where universities become centres of innovation, inclusion, and global excellence.

Dr. Vineet Joshi, in his remarks, stressed the importance of research in driving quality higher education and urged institutions to adopt and replicate best practices across regions. He also highlighted the need to develop teaching and learning resources in local languages for better educational outcomes.

The two-day workshop features 12 thematic sessions covering:

Eminent academicians, administrators, and policymakers will share insights on effective implementation strategies and best practices.