Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Fellowship in UGC
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*172 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## Fellowship in UGC

*172. SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has reviewed the working of University Grants Commission (UGC) and proposes to restructure the commission and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the delay in fellowships granted in Ministry of Human Resource Development and other Ministries such as Minority Affairs, Social Justice and Tribal Affairs and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  UGC  proposes  to  create  a  separate  mechanism  for  disbursement  of fellowships; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO. * 172  FOR  28.11.2016  ASKED  BY  SHRI  PRATHAP  SIMHA,  HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING FELLOWSHIP IN UGC

- (a): Yes, Madam. The Central Government reviews the working of the UGC from time to time. As a follow up of the review, UGC has, inter-alia, undertaken the following measures to make its functioning more efficient:
- i. introduction  of  Choice  Based  Credit  System  in  Universities  for  seamless  mobility  of students across Indian Universities;
- ii. launch  of  specific  programmes  with  a  view  to  ensure  access  and  equity  in  Higher Education;
- iii. grant of functional autonomy to more colleges to ensure academic freedom and quality education;
- iv. establishment  of  Pandit  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Kaushal  Kendras  for  running  a spectrum of skill courses;
- v. release of funds through the PFMS to the Universities to ensure better tracking of fund utilization; and
- vi. encourage collaborative research programmes with foreign institutions.
- (b): The University Grants Commission (UGC) implements various fellowship schemes on behalf of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of  Tribal Affairs.  UGC has intimated that though no delay occurs at the level of the Commission in the grant of fellowships to the candidates, the following factors could be  responsible for certain delays in the final disbursement of fellowship:
1. delay in uploading/updating of data on legacy portal by the University/College/Institute concerned for the legacy cases only.
2. late joining by candidates.
3. delay in submission of documents to the designated bank branches.
4. delay in upload of documents by the bank branches.
5. technical problems in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

(c)  &  (d):  UGC  has  informed  that  it  has  undertaken  the  following  measures  with  a  view  to facilitate  smooth  disbursement  of  fellowships  to  the  students  under  the  various  fellowship schemes:

1. all fellowship schemes have been brought under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
2. disbursal of grants to awardees is being routed through PFMS.
3. a  dedicated  web  portal  (https://scholarship.canarabank.in/AdminLogin.aspx)  has  been created for migration of legacy cases on DBT platform.
4. a fellowship tracking portal has been developed https://scholarship.canarabank.in/scholar/Login.aspx where the students can check the status of payment, date of upload of documents etc.
5. a dedicated email-id ugcfellowships.ugc@gmail.com is created to facilitate the redressal of student grievances especially relating to disbursal of fellowship/ scholarships.
6. a  dedicated  telephone  number  (011-23235640)  has  been  provided  to  attend  to  calls from students relating to grievances/complaints/ problems on disbursal of grants under various fellowship/ scholarship schemes.

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