Mumbai University’s budget for 2019-20 is ₹695 crore, but only ₹15L allocated to better ranking

Varsity aims to be among the top global universities; allocates money for grants, international collaboration cell

To improve its standing in institutional rankings, the University of Mumbai’s (MU) annual budget for 2019-20 has provided an outlay of ₹15 lakh for its “mission” to be among the top 100 varsities in the world. According to the World University Rankings 2019, MU ranked in the 801-1,000 category.

The annual budget, which shows a deficit of ₹68.81 crore, was approved by the varsity senate on Thursday. (HT File)

The annual budget, which shows a deficit of ₹68.81 crore, was approved by the varsity senate on Thursday. MU’s 2019-20 budget has proposed an outlay of ₹695 crore, which is ₹122 crore (21%) more than last year’s budget. Among recurring expenses, the highest is for general administration – ₹144 crore. In the non-recurring account, the highest expenditure is on land and buildings (₹142 crore).

Speaking about the ₹15 lakh to improve MU’s ranking, a source from the varsity described it as “an initial amount”. “More money will be provided as and when required,” the source said.

The MU plans to encourage researchers by offering incentives and financial help. It has allocated ₹3.25 crore for awards for publication of research work, providing consultancy and publishing books. The varsity also plans to help new researchers with seed money and provide fellowships to needy students pursuing MPhil. An amount of ₹90 lakh has been allocated for fellowships to research scholars under an initiative titled “vice chancellor (V-C) fellows”.

MU has set aside ₹5 lakh to set up a cell for international collaborations, which will facilitate student and faculty exchange programmes between MU and foreign varsities. It also includes ₹1 crore for Bal Apte Centre, which will showcase the history of student movements.

HT had earlier reported that the 2019-20 budget includes provisions for projects that were originally proposed as far back as in 2014-15, but are yet to be realised. This includes establishing centres for gender studies, international studies, China studies, European studies, skill development and railway research. While the MU has been making provisions for these in subsequent budgets, hardly any money has been spent on them.