New Delhi: The higher education sector will see a mega expansion during the 11th Five Year Plan with the University Grants Commission (UGC) proposing to setup 30 new universities with the state-of-art infrastructure and also enhancing the existing ones.

An action plan has been prepared by the UGC which envisions increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio and the total percentage of students pursuing higher education in the age group of 18-23 years from 10 percent to 15 percent by 2012.

The UGC has also prepared the concept paper and draft bill for the 16 new central varsities. Furthermore, a committee has been formed to formulate plans for the 14 universities with world class infrastructure.

UGC Chairman Prof. Sukhdeo Thorat said that 370 new colleges will be setup with the help of special grants in districts where the Gross Enrollment Ratio is lower than the national average.

To make room for the 27 percent OBC quota reservations, the UGC will provide a grant of Rs.870 crores for enhancing the infrastructure in more than 20 central universities.