Tripura Sets Ambitious Target to Boost Higher Education: GER to Reach 30 by 2030
In a move aimed at strengthening the higher education landscape in the state, the Government of Tripura has set an ambitious goal to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 30 by the year 2030. This announcement was made by Raval Hamendra Kumar, Special Secretary of the Higher Education Department, during a press conference held at the State Secretariat on Tuesday.
Currently, Tripura’s GER stands at 20.7 percent for the academic year 2021–22, reflecting the proportion of youth aged 18 to 23 enrolled in higher education institutions across the state. The government recognizes the need for comprehensive action to bridge this gap over the next five years. According to the Special Secretary, the roadmap to achieve this target involves expanding the state’s higher education infrastructure by setting up new colleges, increasing student intake capacities, and enhancing the quality and availability of both physical infrastructure and human resources.
To facilitate this transition, the Higher Education Department has already announced the commencement of admissions for the academic session 2025–26 in three new General Degree Colleges (GDCs) located at Korbook, Ambassa, and Kakraban. These colleges have been strategically established to cater to students in remote and underserved areas, allowing easier access to higher education for students who have recently completed their higher secondary education.
Additionally, the state will introduce new undergraduate B.A. programmes at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE), Kunjaban, and the College of Teacher Education (CTE), Kumarghat. This step aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for converting higher education institutions into multi-disciplinary centres of learning. With the introduction of these courses, both IASE and CTE will now function as multi-disciplinary institutions.
For the academic year 2024–25, the total intake capacity for first-semester students was 31,379. With the establishment of the three new colleges and the additional courses at IASE and CTE, the intake capacity for 2025–26 will increase by 575, bringing the total to 31,954 students.
Several other strategic initiatives are also underway to modernize and expand higher education facilities in the state. The government has taken over the old building of the Sabroom English Medium Higher Secondary School for use by Michael Madhusudan Datta College, Sabroom. This building will now be repurposed to house a new Science Campus under the state’s capacity-building initiative.
In a further push toward academic excellence, the government is planning to establish two new universities: a Government Technical University at the TIT campus and a Government Women’s University at the Women’s College campus in Agartala. Legislative preparations for the establishment of these universities are currently in progress. Meanwhile, the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) is actively recruiting for 201 Assistant Professor positions across various subjects to support the anticipated expansion.
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Addressing the state’s preparedness for upcoming student intake, the press release stated that an estimated 28,000 students have passed the Higher Secondary examination this year from various boards including the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), ISC, and open schools. Of these, 17,052 are from TBSE alone, and 10,000 are estimated to be from CBSE-affiliated schools, including Vidya Jyoti Schools operated by the state government.
While the overall intake capacity stands slightly higher than the number of eligible students, demand varies significantly by subject and location. Colleges in urban centres like Agartala experience higher demand for popular subjects such as History, Political Science, Education, Bengali, Kokborok, and English, whereas some rural colleges see under-enrolment.
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To ensure a transparent and merit-based admission process, the entire admission system has been digitized and centralized through the Government of India’s SAMARTH portal. As per the directions of Tripura University and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, all students must apply for admissions through this online platform.
On the infrastructure front, the government has initiated several major construction projects. These include the development of new science buildings at MBB College in Agartala (Rs. 77 crore) and Netaji Subhas Mahavidyalaya in Udaipur (Rs. 40 crore). The vertical extension of the IASE building at Kunjaban is progressing with a project cost of Rs. 9.97 crore.
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Additionally, massive infrastructure development is underway at the upcoming National Law University (NLU), including academic and administrative buildings (Rs. 126 crore), boys’ and girls’ hostels (Rs. 30.5 crore and Rs. 26.52 crore respectively), and a new Polytechnic Building at Narsingarh near the TIT Campus (Rs. 137 crore).
With a clear focus on access, quality, and equity in higher education, the Tripura government’s multipronged approach signals a major transformation in the state’s academic ecosystem. If implemented successfully, these initiatives are expected to significantly enhance student enrolment, academic outcomes, and future opportunities for the youth of Tripura.
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