- Bangalore University gets ₹100 crore under PM-USHA scheme to improve higher education facilities and support green projects.
- New Academic Building and Research Block will focus on digital education, new ideas, and research in science, AI, and climate change.
- Strong green steps: many new saplings planted, tree transplantation, eco-friendly campus work, and clear explanation of environmental questions.
With help from the Pradhan Mantri Upliftment of Scales in Higher Education Scheme (PM-USHA), Bangalore University is set to improve its academic and research spaces using a large grant. The goal is to raise higher education standards and keep the campus green. The university’s latest work—like building new spaces for research and academics, starting digital education efforts, and running green projects—is meant to help current and future students, teachers, and researchers at this well-known institution.
What is PM-Upliftment of Scales in Higher Education (PM-USHA) Scheme?
PM-Upliftment of Scales in Higher Education (PM-USHA) Scheme is a big scheme by the central government to help higher education institutions grow. The main aim is to improve campus infrastructure, bring in modern teaching and research tools, and support sustainability in colleges and universities. With steady financial grants, the scheme encourages advanced academic spaces and the use of green methods, helping universities like Bangalore University keep up with the needs of students and researchers.
How PM-USHA is Changing Bangalore University
With a ₹100 crore grant (60% from the Centre and 40% from the Karnataka Government), Bangalore University is quickly building a new Academic Building and a special Research Block. These new spaces answer the university’s need for more room and better facilities. BU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Jayakara Shetty M., said these buildings will give plenty of space for classes and seminars and encourage joint research across different subjects.
The Academic Block, spread across 1,07,376 sq. ft., is made to support digital learning in science, technology, and math, making BU ready for the future of education. The Research Block—16,163 sq. ft.—will focus on areas like sustainable development, AI, climate change, equal opportunities, and ideas for patents and published work.
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Key Academic Facilities Funded under PM-USHA
Area: 1,07,376 sq. ft.
Focus: Digital learning, science & technology
Purpose: Modern classrooms, interactive labs, STEM teaching
Area: 16,163 sq. ft.
Focus: Sustainable development, artificial intelligence, climate action
Facilities: Innovation spaces, IP & patent centres, publication units
These new blocks will raise the university’s name in research and new ideas, and directly help you get to digital resources, work together with others, and benefit from modern learning spaces.
Sustainability and Green Projects Helped by PM-USHA
BU is known for caring about its campus greenery for years. Under PM-USHA, another ₹8 crore is set aside for eco-friendly upgrades:
- LED street lighting throughout the campus
- Use of electric vehicles (EVs) and bicycles for students and staff
- Better pedestrian walkways, geoparks, and bio-fencing
- Rainwater harvesting systems and building of seven check dams to recharge groundwater
- Restoring medicinal plant gardens (Charakavana and Panchavati)
- Watch towers and a Nature Interpretation Centre to spread environmental awareness
BU is proud that over six lakh saplings from 300 species have been planted since 1998. Between 2017 and 2022 alone, 1.6 lakh new saplings were added around the main academic zones and nearby areas.
Addressing Environmental Concerns: Facts & University Clarifications
There have been questions about tree felling for the new buildings. BU explained:
“The construction site does not fall under the campus’s bio-park or ecologically sensitive zone. The trees are mostly Eucalyptus and Acacia, which are not rare or endangered,” said Prof. Dr. Jayakara Shetty M.
Of the 419 trees in the planned area, 282 may need to be removed, mostly Nilgiri (Eucalyptus). 137 trees in the buffer zone will remain, and smaller trees will be moved. BU fully follows the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976 and promises to plant ten saplings for every tree removed—a strong promise to stay green.
University expansion was done carefully. Of BU’s 1,184-acre Jnana Bharathi campus, over 300 acres are used by other public institutions and much of the rest is still green—site selection included careful ecological review.
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Total PM-USHA Grant | ₹100 crore (Centre 60%, Karnataka 40%) |
| Academic Block Area | 1,07,376 sq. ft. |
| Research Block Area | 16,163 sq. ft. |
| Green Campus Allocation | ₹8 crore |
| Trees Impacted | 282 (majority Nilgiri/Eucalyptus) |
| Tree Transplantation Ratio | 10 saplings for every tree felled |
| Official Website | https://bangaloreuniversity.karnataka.gov.in |
| Saplings planted since 1998 | 6,00,000+ (across 300 native species) |
| Tree law compliance | Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976 |
Who Benefits from Bangalore University’s PM-USHA Upgrades?
These upgrades are good for everyone at BU. Students get more lively classrooms, have access to new digital learning tools, and get more chances in STEM and research areas. Faculty will have better workspace and labs, which help them teach and do research well. Research communities get modern places to work together, file patents, and connect with global academics. Most importantly, BU’s green campus makes sure that growth in education matches caring for the environment for future generations.
To know more about the scheme or campus projects, visit the official portal of Bangalore University or find updates through India’s higher education ministry at education.gov.in.