Ahmedabad: According to data submitted by Gujarat University for the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), the university spent over Rs. 160 crore during the 2022-23 fiscal year. Of this total expenditure, approximately Rs. 37.66 crore was allocated to capital expenditure on academic activities and resources (excluding buildings), while Rs. 122.77 crore was dedicated to operational costs.

The operational expenditure includes salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff, maintenance of academic infrastructure, and other running costs, including expenses for seminars, conferences, and workshops. Notably, Rs. 78 crore was spent on staff salaries alone.

The data also reveals that Gujarat University has a total of 3,537 students across all programs, comprising 2,318 female students and 1,219 male students. This translates to an average expenditure of Rs. 4.53 lakh per student.

In comparison, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which holds the 2nd spot in the national rankings, had a total student strength of 5,199 in 2022. The university spent approximately Rs. 592 crore, with Rs. 22.49 crore on capital expenditure and Rs. 569.54 crore on operational expenses, amounting to an average of Rs. 11.38 lakh per student.

Similarly, Jamia Millia Islamia, ranked 3rd, had 8,730 students and spent Rs. 24 crore on capital expenditure and Rs. 658 crore on operational expenses. With a total expenditure of around Rs. 682 crore, the average spending per student was approximately Rs. 7.81 lakh.

If we compare all three universities, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) spends approximately 151% more per student than Gujarat University, while the per-student expenditure at Jamia Millia Islamia is 72% higher than Gujarat University’s average.

On the other hand, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, which is ranked 1st in the NIRF rankings for management institutes, has 879 students. The institution’s expenditures amounted to Rs. 49.11 crore for capital and Rs. 260.20 crore for operational costs, with a total spending of Rs. 309.31 crore. This results in an average expenditure of Rs. 35.19 lakh per student.

Among Gujarat-based engineering institutions, IIT Gandhinagar reported a student strength of 1,121. The institute’s expenditures included Rs. 26.25 crore for capital and Rs. 139.84 crore for operational costs, totaling around Rs. 166 crore. This equates to an average spending of Rs. 14.81 lakh per student.

Another engineering university, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) in Surat, had a strength of 4,009 students. It spent Rs. 34 crore on capital expenditure and Rs. 149 crore on operational expenditure. With a total expenditure of Rs. 183 crore, SVNIT spent an average of Rs. 4.56 lakh per student.

Gujarat National Law University reported that it has 1,059 students and spent around Rs. 40.79 crore in the year 2022-23, which equates to an average expenditure of Rs. 3.85 lakh per student.

The state also has two agricultural universities, one in Navsari and another in Anand. The Navsari Agricultural University had a total student strength of 2,365. It reported a capital expenditure of Rs. 8.7 crore and an operational expenditure of Rs. 148.6 crore, amounting to a total of Rs. 157.3 crore. This implies that the university spent an average of Rs. 6.65 lakh per student.

Meanwhile, Anand Agricultural University reported a student strength of 2,022. It spent Rs. 5.9 crore on capital expenditure and Rs. 308.6 crore on operational costs. With a total expenditure of Rs. 314.5 crore for 2022-23, the university spent an average of Rs. 15.55 lakh per student. DeshGujarat