All universities and higher educational institutions (HEls) have been directed by the government to ensure that no monetary transactions, including fee payments, are made by students in cash mode from the upcoming academic session.
The ministry of human resource development has taken this step to not only boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to empower India digitally but also as a measure to discourage donations and corruption.
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The ministry has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to issue necessary advisory to all HEls that monetary transactions should be done using digital modes of payment in order to ensure transparency and propriety.
"All receipts and payments related to the functioning of the institutions including student fees, exam fees, vendor payments and salary/wage payments shall be made 'only' through online or digital modes," the directive sent to university heads said.
It has also asked services at hostels to engage in digital transactions. "All canteens and business establishments on the campus may be encouraged to resort to only digital modes for their receipts and payments using the BHIM app by linking their bank accounts with Aadhaar," it added.
The institutes have been asked to identify all transactions being carried out in cash currently and find ways to replace them with digital modes, appoint a nodal officer for the purpose, and send a monthly report to the UGC.
