PRAYAGRAJ, March 18 -- Uttar Pradesh is set to establish dedicated research chairs across 11 state universities and degree colleges to promote and preserve India's rich knowledge traditions. Officials from the state higher education department said the initiative will be implemented at a total cost of Rs.55 crore. The scheme targets institutions that have completed at least 75 years of establishment and have a student population exceeding 7,500. Under the plan, each selected institution will receive Rs.5 crore in a phased manner. For the 2026-27 academic session, the first installment of Rs.5 crore has already been approved. BL Sharma, director of Higher Education, stated that all selected institutions will set up "Indian Knowledge Tradition Promotion Research Chairs" in phases, and preparations are already underway. The institutions chosen under this initiative include Lucknow University (established 1920), Shri Jai Narayan Mishra Postgraduate College, Lucknow (1917), Shia PG College, Lucknow (1919), Saket Postgraduate College, Ayodhya (1951), Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi (1921), Tilakdhari Postgraduate College, Jaunpur (1948), Shibli National College, Azamgarh (1948), Bareilly College, Bareilly (1837), Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra (1927), Agra College, Agra (1823), and DS College, Azamgarh. Infrastructure Development Plan for 38 Aided Colleges In addition to the research chairs, 38 government-aided degree colleges that have completed 75 years have been selected for an infrastructure development plan. These colleges will receive financial support to upgrade basic facilities and enhance overall infrastructure. Among the selected colleges are St. John's College, Agra (1850), RBS College, Agra (1885), Christ Church College, Kanpur (1866), St. Andrews College, Gorakhpur (1899), and Meerut College, Meerut (1892). This dual initiative is expected to significantly boost research in Indian knowledge traditions while simultaneously upgrading the infrastructure of the state's oldest higher education institutions, strengthening their role in shaping the academic and cultural landscape of Uttar Pradesh. Officials said that this dual initiative is expected to significantly boost research in Indian knowledge traditions while simultaneously improving the infrastructure of the state's oldest higher education institutions. The move aims to strengthen their role in shaping the academic and cultural landscape of Uttar Pradesh, they added....