Lok Sabha Question No. 2525 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Reconstitution of UGC
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2525 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2016

## Reconstitution of UGC

## 2525. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of private institutions driven by commercial interests have entered the higher education sector in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  at  time,  the  private  institutions  have  not  been  able  to  maintain  the prescribed standards in the field and if so, the number of such cases which have come to the cognizance of the Government during the last year;
- (c) whether the Government has received complaints that the entire functioning of the University Grants Commission (UGC) was being directed towards giving grants rather than  implementing  the  minimum  standards  of  functioning  and  regulation  of  higher educational institutions;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has proposed to reconstitute the UGC and if so, the details thereof and the time by which UGC is likely to be constituted?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a):  Education  in  India  is  not  regarded  as  a  commercial  activity  and  all  educational institutions  have  to  be  set  up  in  the  'not  for  profit'  mode.  Universities  &  affiliated colleges and Deemed to be Universities have to be set up as 'not for profit' institutions for  operating in the private sector. Fee Fixation Committees have been set up by the State Governments, which are fixing fee for all professional and technical courses.
- (b): Private Universities in the country are regulated by the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003. The regulations are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/regulations/establishment\_maintenance.pdf.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified these regulations to monitor Private  Universities.    On  the  spot  visits  are  conducted  by  the  UGC  with  the  help  of Expert Committees to ensure that these Universities maintain the standards of teaching and research in higher education.

Out of the total 243 Private Universities, the UGC has already inspected 146 Private Universities with the help of Expert Committees.  These Committees visited Universities to ascertain fulfilment of criteria by these Universities in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural  facilities,  financial  viability,  etc.    These  Universities  are  asked  to  rectify the deficiencies pointed out by UGC Expert Committees and submit compliance report to the UGC. UGC  has  taken  the  following  action  on  receipt  of  complaints  against  Private Universities: (i)  UGC team visited CMJ University, Meghalaya and submitted its report.  The report was sent to the State Government.  The State Government of Meghalaya decided to dissolve the University. (ii)  UGC team visited EIILM University and recommended dissolution of the University. The state cabinet decided to dissolve the University. (iii)  Public Notices issued to inform students not to take admissions in EIILM University

- and Jodhpur National University.

(c)  to  (e):The  Government  had  constituted  a  Review  Committee  headed  by  Dr.  Hari Gautam, former Chairman UGC to review the working of the UGC.  The Committee had submitted  its  report.  There  is  no  proposal  to  reconstitute  the  UGC.  The  process  of reforms  has  already  been  initiated  in  the  UGC.  Significant  funding  reforms  and regulatory reforms have been undertaken with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms of the UGC.

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