PRAYAGRAJ, June 14 -- Uttar Pradesh is set to get 19 new degree colleges under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme, with the aim of promoting higher education in the state. These colleges, which were initially to be run by the minority welfare and Waqf department, are now being transferred to the higher education department of UP.Officials from both departments held a meeting in Lucknow on June 3 to discuss this transfer. While the colleges are confirmed, it has not yet been decided whether they will operate as government colleges or under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.These 19 new degree colleges will be in addition to 71 other government degree colleges. Of these 71, 69 are ready to begin functioning from July 1 (2025-26 session), and the remaining two, still under construction, are expected to be operational from the 2026-27 academic session. According to Amit Bhardwaj, director (higher education), making these 19 new degree colleges functional is a top priority for the state government, and the project's progress is being continuously reviewed at the highest level. He emphasised that the opening of these colleges will enable a large number of students to access quality higher education at an affordable cost. Among the 19 colleges, two will be established in Pratapgarh (one in Gabi Mahuavan and another in Sandwa Chandika Purba village). Additionally, three will open in Meerut, two each in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Shamli and Ghaziabad, and one each in Bulandshahr, Muzaffarpur, Sitapur, Unnao, Balrampur, Rampur, Sant Kabir Nagar and Azamgarh....