New Delhi, 23 March 2022: On 21 March 2022, the state legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh passed the AP Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022. As per the announcement, the state will reserve 50% seats in medical colleges and 35% in engineering colleges for underprivileged students in greenfield and brownfield institutions. The aim of this decision is to enable easy accessibility to quality education for the disadvantaged students.
After moving the AP Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration, Minister for Education – Audimulapu Suresh – stated that the previous government had introduced the Act in 2016 with the sole aim of corporatisation and commercialisation of education wherein it provided many subsidies to private universities.
What are Greenfield Institutions?
Greenfield institutions are the ones that are yet to be established and are sponsored by organizations with a net worth of Rs 5,000 crores collectively without any prior affiliation to any existing university or institution.
Note: These institutions are not eligible for the Rs 1,000-crore grant over five years launched by the state government.
What are Brownfield Institutions?
Brownfield institutions are already existing colleges which fall into the following conditions:
(i) Located in a geographically well-connected area in an extent of land not less than 50 acres.
(ii) Engaged in teaching and research at undergraduate and postgraduate or higher levels in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
(iii) Possessing National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation of 3.2 and above for two cycles and/or National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation of two cycles.
(iv) Willing to invest in the existing college a minimum of 250 crores furthermore in the course of three years.
(v) Possesses tie up with top 100 universities in the global ranking for joint certification of degrees as prerequisite.
(vi) Willing to allot 35% of the seats under government quota at subsidized rates to benefit the underprivileged children of Andhra Pradesh as directed by the state government.
