EDUCATION

There is a need to increase public expenditure on higher education. Prof Sukhadev Thorat, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) told this to media on sidelines of the two-day international seminar on 'Higher Education for Growth and Equity: India-China Experience', that concluded on Sunday.While interacting with the media, Prof. Thorat said, "On financing higher education, the seminar suggested that current target is to increase gross environment ratio from 9.70% to 15%.To achieve this, expenditure on higher education would have to be increased from 0.65% of GDP in the first year to 1.06% during 11th Plan. The UGC estimates vary from minimum of Rs.47,000 crores to Rs.74,000 crores based on two alternative norms."CAREER