Mumbai: The government today gave its approval for establishment of 12 new central universities in 12 states and for taking over and conversion of for existing state universities into central universities.

A new central university will be established in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, with central government funding, at such locations within each state as may be notified by the central government.

The union cabinet also approved the proposal for taking over and conversion of Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar in Madhya Pradesh, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Srinagar, Uttarakhand, and Goa University, Goa into central universities, with central government funding.

The government proposes to introduce the central universities bill, 2008, in Parliament during the forthcoming session.