New Delhi: The Empowered Committee set up by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry on Thursday cleared the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared by the 12 Central Universities on the funds and infrastructure needed to roll out Quota Reservations successfully.

The Committee said that in order to provide 27 percent OBC Reservations, while keeping the existing number of general category seats intact, there will be an increase of approximately 42000 seats in the intake capacity over a period of 3 years in the 12 Central Universities, out of which, there will be an increase of about 14,000 seats during the academic session 2008-2009.

"This will result in the increase of about 1.18 lakhs students after implementation of OBC reservation in these Central Universities", the Committee chaired by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sukhdeo Thorat said.

The Committee also approved the increasing of allocation of Central Universities from Rs.3297.71 crores, as earlier recommended by the Moily Committee, to Rs.4306.44 crores.

It further recommended the allocation to the tune of Rs.3575.19 crores towards recurring expenditure (five years) and non-recurring expenditure (three years) in respect of 12 Central Universities including the UGC maintained colleges in these Central Universities.

The HRD Ministry has an allocation Rs.875.00 crores for the year 2008-2009 for this purpose, against which the UGC has received the first installment of Rs.393.75 crores.

Accordingly, the Committee decided the university-wise allocation for the year 2008-2009 in respect of these 12 Central Universities.

As recommended by the Committee, the UGC has already released 50 percent of the amount thus allocated in respect of the 12 Central Universities on June 17, 2008.