The government is keen to complete the formalities before the announcement the Lok Sabha elections. “The response has been very good and we have a long list of applicants. Applications are being processed by the district level committees and very soon, we will finalise the list,” said Umesh Sinha, Secretary of Higher Education.

“The idea is to set up degree colleges in under-served areas across the state. The government will provide initial assistance to set up such colleges. Later, it will monitor them,” he added.

Preference will be given to those private players who are ready to set up girls’ colleges in areas where there are no such colleges at present.

Asked whether the list will be made public before the Lok Sabha elections are announced, Sinha said: “We are trying to announce the list in one go as soon as possible. But we want to ensure that the list is error-free.”

The private players will be given a grant of Rs 40 lakh to open a college teaching science subjects and Rs 30 lakh to open a college in non-science subjects. The grant will be given in two installments - the second one will be provided after the submission of the utilisation certificate of the first installment.

The proposed colleges should have at least two hectare land registered in the name of the owner or the society which will set up the college. The society should have an annual income of not less that Rs 5 lakh.