Hyderabad: Although more students in Telangana are accessing higher education, questions remain about whether those who perform well academically receive enough financial aid under current policies.
The PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme offers educational loans without requiring collateral or guarantors. However, only a few state-run Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Telangana meet the criteria based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). For the 2024–25 NIRF rankings, only 12 HEIs from Telangana are nationally recognized, and just four state-run institutions qualify as Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs), which is necessary for loan eligibility. This situation leaves many students in fields like technology, law, and medicine to self-fund or seek loans that demand collateral.
The central government launched the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme to support merit-based students in top-ranked institutions. It aims to help over 22 lakh students yearly, focusing on technical education access. However, the low ranking of Telangana’s state-run institutions suggests issues with competitiveness and quality. While institutions like AIIMS Bibinagar, NALSAR University of Law, and NIPER Hyderabad perform well, many local bodies don’t meet the required standards. This scenario raises concerns about whether the state prioritizes expanding access over improving educational quality.
Though Telangana’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) is above the national average, state-run HEIs struggle with national rankings, impacting their students. A former Vice Chancellor from a Telangana State University emphasized the need for strategic improvements in infrastructure, faculty, and innovation to enhance public institutions’ performance.
The PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme offers flexibility, but state support is crucial to ensure deserving students aren’t disadvantaged by their institution’s ranking. Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) Chairman Prof. V Balakista Reddy mentioned efforts to improve NIRF rankings, including meetings with university Vice-Chancellors and other educational leaders to enhance education quality.
The state government is focused on advancing quality assurance in all educational institutions to boost NIRF rankings. Recognizing that funding and schemes increasingly depend on these rankings, the government plans to allocate resources to help state-run HEIs meet these standards.
