DAVV finalises Rs500 crore budget, focus on expansion & revenue measures

Indore: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya has finalised a budget exceeding Rs500 crore for the financial year 2026–27. It will be tabled before the university's executive council on Thursday.It is expected to be the highest budget ever presented by the varsity. A significant portion of the budget, nearly Rs100 crore, has been earmarked for development work.Allocation for the proposed medical college in Jhabua has been increased from Rs20 crore to Rs30 crore. In addition, provisions have been made for setting up a School of AYUSH, expansion of six teaching departments and construction of four new buildings.The proposal is expected to trigger detailed discussions on expansion plans, financial concerns, and academic growth.The university is also addressing a decline in revenue following separation of around 80 colleges due to the formation of a new university in Khargone. This has affected income from affiliation and examination fees. To bridge the gap, DAVV is planning a five to eight percent fee hike for courses run by the university teaching departments. Officials expect partial relief as nearly 30 nursing colleges have been re-affiliated with the university.Efforts are underway to improve financial stability through introduction of new departments and courses that can generate additional fee-based income. A proposal to increase examination fees is also under consideration. Salary expenditure remains the largest financial burden, with annual spending ranging between Rs90 crore and Rs120 crore.The current exercise follows last year's financial strain, when the university presented a deficit budget of Rs171.34 crore for 2024–25, with income pegged at Rs295.24 crore against an expenditure of Rs466.58 crore.DAVV vice-chancellor prof Rakesh Singhai said, "We have tried to balance spending and income. Our aim is to improve facilities and start new courses, while also making sure the university's finances remain stable in the coming years."