Lok Sabha Question No. 2541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2541 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## Higher Education

## 2541. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  quality  is  a  major  concern  in  higher education in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is making efforts to bring higher education at par with the standards of the best in the world; and
- (c)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  in  this  direction  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)  to (c): Yes, Madam. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has intimated that it has  been  constantly  striving  to  develop  a  system  of  higher  education  of  quality, appropriate  to  the  national  needs  and  aspirations  and  in  tune  with  global  trends.  The Commission is committed to constant improvement of the quality of higher education and defining excellence in the processes of teaching, learning and research.

In order to ensure quality of higher education is further streamlined, UGC has notified the  following  regulations  which  are  mandatory  for  every  institution  of  higher  education across the country:

-  UGC  (Minimum  Standards  and  Procedure  for  Award  of  M.PHIL./PH.D Degrees)  Regulations,  2016 notified  in  order  to  maintain  strong  checks  on  the quality  of  research  output  being  produced  in  the  country.  These  regulations ensure  elimination  of  malpractices  in  the  admission  process  as  well  as  the progression towards award of an M.Phil or Ph.D. degree.
-  UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between  Indian  and  Foreign  Educational  Institutions)  Regulations,  2016 -One  of  the  salient  features  of  these  regulations  is  to  promote  collaboration between the quality institutions of India with reputed foreign institutions.
-  UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017 have  been  notified  to  create  a  distinct  category  of  Deemed  to  be  Universities, called  Institutions  of  Eminence  Deemed  to  be  Universities,  so  as  to  evolve  into Institutions  of  world  class  in  reasonable  time  period  and  also  to  assist  Indian Higher Education Institutions to get a rank within the top 100 in globally renowned rankings.
-  UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2018 have

been  notified  on  12.02.2018.  These  regulations  ensure  that  quality  Institutions become autonomous to enhance quality of education on one side and to promote innovation in teaching and research on the other side.

-  University  Grants  Commission  (Categorisation  of  Universities  (Only)  For Grant of Graded  Autonomy)  Regulations,  2018 have been  notified on 12.02.2018  to  provide  autonomy  based  on  quality  benchmark  to  the  Higher Educational  Institutions  (HEIs).  Under  these  Regulations,  Universities  having NAAC scrore of 3.51 or above or have received a corresponding score/grade from a  reputed  accreditation  agency  empanelled  by  the  UGC  or  have  been  ranked among top 500 of reputed world rankings are placed in Category-I. Universities having NAAC  score  of 3.26 and above, upto 3.50 or have received a corresponding  accreditation  grade/score  from  a  reputed  Accreditation  Agency empanelled by the UGC are placed in Category-II. The Universities which do not come under the above two categories are placed in Category-III.

Further, UGC has initiated many endeavors to improve the quality of Higher Education and to meet the global standards. Some of the recent ones are listed below :

Research  &  Relevance :  In  order  to  encourage  research  and  development  in  the country,  UGC  has  laid  out  a  number  of  schemes,  awards,  fellowships,  chairs  and programmes  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  institutions  of  higher education as well as faculty members working therein to undertake quality research in almost  all  areas  of  knowledge  across  disciplines  including  revival  and  promotion  of indigenous languages.

1. Universities  with  Potential  for  Excellence : This  scheme  has  continued  since  IX Plan wherein financial assistance is provided to eligible institutions
2. Centre with potential for excellence in particular area : (CPEPA) - UGC introduced the scheme of Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area (CPEPA) during IX  Plan  period,  which  has  been  continued  upto  XII  Plan  period  for  development  of academic/research infrastructure to improve the programmes and activities in a chosen discipline at the selected university.
3. Special Assistance Programme (SAP) : Special Assistance Programme is intended to  encourage  the  pursuit  of  excellence  and  teamwork  in  advanced  teaching  and research as well as to accelerate the realization of international standards in specific fields.
4. Research  Projects :  UGC  provides  financial  assistance  to  teachers  teaching  in universities and colleges to promote excellence in teaching and research.
5. Basic Science Research : With a view to providing an opportunity for continuance of  research  contributions  in  Basic  Science  Research  by  talented  Science  and technology scholars /teachers.

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