New Delhi: The Central Government on Wednesday informed the Parliament that there are a total of 6,999 recognized colleges in the country.

In written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D. Purandeswari, informed the House that as on 30th September, 2008, there were 4,961 private colleges and 2,038 Government-owned colleges recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The highest number, 980 to be precise, of such recognized colleges is in Uttar Pradesh, followed by 917 in Maharashtra, 591 in Karnataka, 450 in Andhra Pradesh and 445 in Madhya Pradesh.

Purandeswari also informed that private colleges which are permanently affiliated to State universities and which get maintenance grants (under Salary head) from the concerned state government are eligible for grants from the UGC also.

As on 30th September this year, 3904 private colleges were eligible to receive grants from the UGC.

Eligible colleges are provided development grants and also grants for improvement of quality of education under the UGC's scheme of 'Colleges with Potential for Excellence'.