Three Sanskrit institutes which are currently operating as deemed-to-be-universities are all set to become Central Universities with the government initiating a move in this regard, Deccan Herald has reported.

A Cabinet note has been circulated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to other ministries asking for comments and suggestions over the proposal submitted.

The three institutes are namely, New Delhi’s Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth and Tirupati’s Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth. This demand has been much awaited from scholars of the Sanskrit language.

Deccan Herald quoted Minister of State for HRD Satyapal Singh as saying, “Based on the persistent demand from the Sanskrit scholars, academia persuading the Sanskrit education, the HRD ministry has initiated a proposal to convert Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati into central universities.”

A bill will be required to grant the central university status to the aforementioned institutes of learning. The government intends to make “seats of Sanskrit learning of national and international repute”.

After the university status, these Sanskrit Pathshalas can offer certificate courses.