Functioning of Universities In India

State Private Universities are established by Acts of the concerned State legislatures. At present these are regulated by the UGC as per provisions contained in the UGC (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities), Regulations, 2003. These private universities are inspected by the UGC with the help of concerned Statutory Council(s). Out of the 111 State Private Universities, the UGC Expert Committees have already visited 53.

Quality enhancement and improvement in standards of higher education is an ongoing process. Government has taken several measures in this regard. These measures include introduction of the semester system, regular updating of curricula and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) etc. The UGC has issued Regulations on “Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2010” for improving the standards of teaching in Indian Universities. In order to improve quality of teachers and teaching, National Eligibility Test (NET) and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) have been made compulsory requirements, with the only exception being those who have completed Ph.D in accordance with UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil/Ph.D Degree), Regulations 2009. National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body established by the UGC, accredits universities and colleges on various parameters of quality. The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accredits programmes offered by the technical institutions. The UGC has launched several schemes to improve the standards of education in Universities and Colleges. Under these schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible universities and colleges for creation and upgradation of infrastructural facilities, including Libraries, Laboratories and Hostels and for strengthening of teaching and research. In order to attract best talents in the teaching profession, the Government has notified new pay structure for the University teachers w.e.f. 01.01.2006. The UGC has issued the “Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities Regulations” 2003 and the “Institutions Deemed to be Universities Regulations” 2010 for regulating the functioning of private universities and deemed to be universities in the country.

The Ministry has undertaken legislative initiatives including The National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010, which provides for making accreditation mandatory in order to ensure independent credible quality assurance mechanism for higher educational institutions in the country.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. D. Purandeswari, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Source Ref : MV/GK (Press Information Bureau, Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development )