Jaipur, Oct. 30 -- The Rajasthan government plans to introduce a grading system to rank all 669 government colleges in the state every month, with the aim of improving academic performance, encouraging innovation and strengthening the quality of higher education. Chief secretary V Srinivas on Thursday directed officials of the higher education department to develop the system and incentivise colleges that perform better. He issued the directions during an interaction with principals of government colleges at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences. The meeting was held as part of the state government's efforts to improve the quality of education, promote skill development and ensure the overall development of students. Srinivas also directed the department to interact with principals of at least five government colleges every month and establish a mechanism for regular communication among all 669 institutions to facilitate the exchange of best practices, innovations and achievements. He said academic planning should prioritise students' future prospects, with courses developed in line with international standards and market requirements. He called for greater emphasis on employment-oriented courses linked to skill development. He also asked officials to create opportunities for meritorious students to showcase their talent at national and international platforms. Teachers with outstanding performance should also be recognised to foster a culture of academic excellence and innovation, he said. The chief secretary directed colleges to organise job fairs at the institutional level to help students access employment opportunities locally. He also called for coordinated efforts to improve the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ratings of colleges currently graded 'B', with the target of moving them to the 'A' category. The chief secretary directed all government colleges to maintain well-organised, regularly updated websites containing essential and latest institutional information, including links to research publications, to help students, faculty members and the public access relevant details. He also stressed the digitisation of college libraries and the proper maintenance and regular inspection of student hostels to ensure the quality of available facilities. Srinivas said the government aimed to digitally empower every student and strengthen the technological capabilities of every college by expanding digital facilities and improving access to quality education. He also called for documenting the history of government colleges with a legacy of more than 100 years and celebrating their foundation days to preserve their heritage and achievements....