Cabinet Approved Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University, Telangana

The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Central Universities Act- 2009 for the establishment of Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana on 4 October 2023. This university will be established in Mulugu district of Telangana.

Central Universities (Amendment) Bill-2023:

• For this, the Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the amendment related bill – Central Universities (Amendment) Bill-2023 in the Parliament.
• This university is being established under the 13th Schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act- 2014.
• Under this, one tribal university each was to be established in both the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• The university has been established in Andhra Pradesh in 2019, whereas in Telangana the university could not be established yet due to delay in land allotment.

Provision of funds amounting to Rs 889.07 crore on the University:

• There will be a provision of Rs 889.07 crore for Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University.

Promotion of tribal art, culture and traditional knowledge:

• The new university will increase access to higher education as well as improve quality education in the state.
• It will also promote measures for higher education and advanced knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture and traditional knowledge systems in the State for the benefit of the tribal population.
• This new university will also create additional capacity and attempt to address regional imbalances.

Central Tribal Universities in India:

• The Central Government has previously established two Central Tribal Universities to provide opportunities for higher education and research facilities to the tribal population of the country. These are:
  • Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak and
  • Andhra Pradesh Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram.
• Now the third university will be established in Telangana as Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University.
• At present there are a total of 45 central universities in the country.