Lok Sabha Question No. 1370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Cut throat competition in Higher Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1370

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## CUT THROAT COMPETITION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

†1370. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

SHRI OMPRAKASH

PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is cut-throat competition in higher education due to fewer number of seats in Government institutes and heavy donation and capitation fee charged by the private institutes directly or indirectly;
- (b) if so, the details thereof?
- (c)  steps  taken to  address  the problem of donation and capitation fee in private educational institutes; and
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government proposes  to  impart  higher education to  all  eligible aspirants?.

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) and (b): There is a growing demand of quality educational institutions in the country and seats  for  admission  in  Govt.  institutions  are  fixed  and  limited.  The  seats  are  determined, keeping in view of availability of physical infrastructure, faculty position, financial resources etc. So far as donation and capitation fee is concerned, various provisions have already been made to curb the practice of charging capitation fee or any other form of profiteering by Institutions. The  regulatory  bodies  in  higher  education  i.e.  UGC  and  AICTE  have  issued  regulations  and guidelines on this.

(c) and (d): The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 provides that no candidate secures admission to such course of study by reason of economic power and thereby prevents a more meritorious candidate from securing admission to such course of study.

According to UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2019, 'No institution deemed to be university shall, for admission in respect of any course or programme of study conducted  in  such  institution,  accept  payment  towards  admission  fee  and  other  fees  and charges:-

- (a) which  is  a  capitation  fee  or  donation  in  whatever  nomenclature  or  form,  either directly or indirectly;
- (b) other than such fee or charges for such admission, which has been declared by it in the  prospectus  for  admission  against  any  such  seat,  and  on  the  website  of  the institution;
- (c) more  than  the  fee  prescribed  by  the  fee  committee  constituted  as  per  fee regulations issued by the Commission;
- (d) Without  a  proper  receipt  in  writing  issued  for  such  payment  to  the  concerned student admitted in such institution.

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  stipulated  above,  the  UGC  has  prepared  a  draft University  Grants  Commission (Fees in professional education imparted by private aided and unaided  institutions  deemed  to  be  universities)  Regulations,  2019.    These  Regulations  are formulated  to  regulate  the  fees  and  prohibit  capitation  fees  in  private  Deemed  to  be Universities.    These  Regulations  are  at  a  draft  stage  and  shall  be  finalized  on  receipt  of comments from various Statutory Council(s).

All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has called upon students, parents and the general public not to pay any capitation fee or any other fee other than that mentioned in the Prospectus  of  the  institutions  for  consideration  of  admission  through  advertisement/public notice  from  time to  time.  Aggrieved  students/parents  can  send  their  complaint  to  Grievance Redressal Committee of the Institution and, if not satisfied with the decision of the Committee, they can send appeal to the Ombudsman.

In order to provide higher education to all deserving cases, Government has also introduced several scholarship schemes, including tuition fee waiver, for the disadvantage sections of the population and students with special needs.

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