The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a Tk 12,300 crore budget for 58 public universities and the UGC for the FY2026-27, with increased allocation for both operational and development expenditures.

The approval was given at the 178th plenary meeting of the commission held on Thursday, chaired by UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed.

According to the approved budget, Tk 12,001.82 crore has been allocated for public universities and Tk 298.58 crore for the UGC.

Of the university allocation, Tk 7,428.43 crore has been earmarked for operational expenses and Tk 4,573.39 crore for development projects across 43 initiatives.

For the FY2026-27, the budget allocation for public universities has increased by Tk 1,497.83 crore compared to the revised allocation of the previous fiscal year.

Dhaka University received the highest allocation among public universities at Tk 949.36 crore.

The budget for research and foreign scholarships has been set at Tk 238 crore, reflecting an increase over the previous fiscal year.

UGC officials said efforts are underway to streamline research funding by centralising allocations to improve efficiency and ensure better utilisation of resources in higher education.