Lok Sabha Question No. 3367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Private Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Soyam Babu Rao, Dhanush M Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3367 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## Private Universities

## 3367.  SHRI SOYAM BAPU RAO: SHRI DHANUSH M.KUMAR:

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state : (a)  the  number  of  Private  Universities  recognised  by  UGC  that  are  functioning  in  the country; (b)  whether  most  of  the  Private  Universities  lack  basic  infrastructural  and  financial viability as laid down by the UGC and respective Statutory councils; (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (d) whether UGC conducts inspection of every Private University with the help of Expert
- Committees to ascertain their quality and performance and;
- (e) if so, the details of the inspection conducted during each of the last three years and the  current  year  along  with  the  shortcomings  noticed  and  the  action  taken  in  this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a): As on 03.12.2019, there are 344 Private Universities functioning in the country. The names of these Private Universities have been included by University Grants Commission (UGC) in the list of universities under Section 2(f) of UGC Act, 1956. (b) to (e): On receipt of the Act passed by the State Legislature and notification issued by  the  State  Government  in  respect  of  establishment  of  a  Private  University,  the respective  University  is  asked  to  submit  detailed  information  to  UGC  in  a  prescribed format for inspection. Thereafter, UGC constitutes an Expert Committee consisting of a representative(s)  from  the  Statutory  Council(s)  concerned  to  assess  fulfilment  of
- criteria in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability, etc.

in the Private University in accordance with the UGC  (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003.

As of now, 263 Private Universities have submitted their information to UGC for inspection.  Out  of  these,  199  have  been  inspected  by  the  UGC  so  far.  Of  these  199 Universities,  132  Private  Universities  have  submitted  their  compliance  reports  which have been noted by the Commission.

A total number of 71 Private Universities have been inspected by the UGC Expert Committees in the last three years and the current year. The reports of the Committees including  shortcomings,  observation  &  suggestion  in  terms  of  programmes,  faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability, etc., were sent to the University concerned for compliance. Out of these, 42 Universities have submitted their compliance report to the UGC which have been noted by the Commission.  The year-wise breakup is as under:

| Year   |   No. Of Private Universities inspected |   Compliance noted by the UGC |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2016   |                                      18 |                            14 |
| 2017   |                                      13 |                            09 |
| 2018   |                                      17 |                            12 |
| 2019   |                                      23 |                            07 |
| Total  |                                      71 |                            42 |

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