As many as six universities in Uttar Pradesh have received funding under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) programme. These include the University of Lucknow, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University in Gorakhpur, Ayodhya's Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilhand University in Bareilly, Jhansi's Bundelkhand University and Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut. The sum will be utilised for upgrading laboratories, classrooms, developing innovation hubs and promoting interdisciplinary research.

The state has secured ₹740 crore for the same, where each of the aforementioned universities is slated to receive ₹100 crore. The remaining ₹140 crores will be distributed amongst eight other institutions to aid in revamping old, run down buildings.

A total of 26 universities have been identified under MERU or the multi-disciplinary education and research university, a key theme in India's National Education Policy (NEP).