Lok Sabha Question No. 4928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Academic Excellence
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHARAD BANSODE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4928

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## Academic Excellence

4928. ADV. SHARADKUMAR MARUTI BANSODE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  improve  the  condition  of  the universities and the colleges in respect of infrastructure and academic excellence; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH) (a) & (b):  The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that UGC provides financial assistance under the Scheme 'General Development Assistance' to eligible Central  Universities,  Deemed  Universities,  State  Universities  and  colleges  in  each Plan. The main objective of the Plan Grant, in addition to others, is to set up new and strengthen existing infrastructural facilities in the institutions. The financial assistance to  institutions  is  provided  in  accordance  with  the  extant  guidelines,  taking  into consideration the requirements of university/college and the overall budget. Some  of the major steps taken by the Ministry of  Human  Resource

Development (MHRD)/ the UGC recently are listed below:-

- 1)  The Government has approved a scheme for providing a Regulatory Architecture for setting up/ upgrading of 20 Institutions (10 from public sector & 10 from private sector) as world class teaching and research institutions known as 'Institutions of Eminence'. The Regulatory Architecture has been provided in the  form  of  UGC(Declaration  of  Government  Institutions  as  Institutions  of Eminence)  Guidelines,  2017  for  public  Institutions  and  UGC  (Institutions  of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017 for private Institutions, so as to enable such institutions to evolve into Institutions of world class in a reasonable time period.
- 2)  UGC  (Conferment  of  Autonomous  Status  upon  Colleges  and  Measures  for Maintenance  of  Standards  in  Autonomous  Colleges)  Regulations,  2018  have
3. been  notified  on  12.02.2018.  These  regulations  ensure  that  quality  HEIs become  autonomous.  The  autonomy  is  expected  to  enhance  quality  of education on one side and to promote innovation in teaching and research on the other side.
- 3)  UGC has notified University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (Only)  For  Grant  of  Graded  Autonomy)  Regulations,  2018  on  12.02.2018  to provide  autonomy  based  on  quality  benchmark  to  the  Higher  Educational Institutions (HEIs). The universities have been categorized into three categories based on National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grades and benchmarks as provided in the regulations. Such universities will be provided academic, administrative and financial autonomy which will improve academic quality and promote excellence.
- 4)  The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan (RUSA) is being implemented by the Ministry of HRD with the aim of promoting access, equity and quality. The focus of the scheme is on serving the unserved and underserved areas. Under the scheme, central assistance is provided, inter alia, for components such as Infrastructure grants to colleges and universities, upgradation  of  existing  colleges  to  model  degree  colleges,  etc.  Under  these components, funds are provided to institutions for support for strengthening of infrastructure facilities for construction/renovation  of  libraries, laboratories, hostels  etc  and  for  purchase  of  equipment  in  state  Higher  Educational Institutions (HEIs).

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