UGC - University Grants Commission

UGC stands for University Grants Commission and the term itself is self-explanatory, i.e. a body which grants commission to educational institutes which deserve it the most. But that is only a part of its authority, its authority also comes from the fact that it establishes and maintains standards for higher education. There are some other roles of it as well, like handling all cases pertaining to the allocation of grants-in-aid from public funds to the Central Universities and other Universities and Institutions of higher learning. But the most important role of U.G.C. is to provide recognition to a university, without its approval no institute is supposed to run. According to Section 22(1), of the UGC Act, only universities that are established by an Act of Parliament or the State Legislature or an institution deemed to be a university or an institution especially empowered by an Act of the Parliament can award degrees. The degrees that are to be awarded by such universities should also be listed by the UGC under Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1956. Furthermore, the word 'University' can't be used by any institution other than a university established by or under a Central or a State Act or a Provincial Act. If any institution doesn’t seek recognition from UGC, it would be a fake or illegal university or institute, thus the degree, certificate or diploma awarded by such institutes stands null and void. Despite this, there are many fake universities which take students for a ride just to extract money from them. These were some of the reasons for establishing U.G.C and thus on 28^th Dec, 1953 the first Education Minister of India Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad inaugurated an institution by the name ‘University Grant Commission’ headed by a full time Chairman.

History

The first attempt to formulate a national system of education in India came in 1944, with the Report of the Central Advisory Board of Education on Post War Educational Development in India, also known as the Sargeant Report. It recommended the formation of a University Grants Committee, which was formed in 1945 to oversee the work of the three Central Universities of Aligarh, Banarasand Delhi. In 1947, the Committee was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with all the then existing Universities. Soon after Independence, the University Education Commission was set up in 1948 under the Chairmanship of Dr. S Radhakrishnan.

Traditionally inaugurated in 1953, the UGC, however, was formally established only in November 1956 as a statutory body of the Government of India through an Act of Parliament for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India. With changing demands and diversification of the education system the UGC decentralised its operations by setting up six regional centres at and Bangalore, Bhopal, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. The head office of the UGC is located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi, with two additional bureaus operating from 35, Feroze Shah Road and the South Campus of University of Delhi as well.

Role of UGC

• Promoting and coordinating university education

• Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and research in universities

• Framing regulations on minimum standards of education

• Serving as a vital link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning

• Advising the Central and State governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university education

U.G.C. Regional Centres

Pursuance to the National Policy on Education (1986), the UGC de-centralised its working by opening seven regional offices catering to the states under it. The objectives of setting up these offices were to bring about de-centralisation and to ensure that a large number of colleges throughout the country, which are covered under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, will have better opportunities of response to their needs and problems by way of easier access.

The UGC has the unique distinction of being the only grant-giving agency in the country which has been provided with dual responsibilities of providing funds and that of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education.

Duties of Regional Offices

• Development of Colleges affiliated to State Universities

• Minor Research Projects for College teachers

• Autonomous Colleges

• Seminar/Symposia/Conference etc. for colleges

• Construction of Women's Hostel (Special scheme)

• Award of Teacher Fellowship to College Teachers for doing M. Phil / Ph.D.

• Financial assistance to Teachers - Visually Handicapped (Blind)

UGC Guidelines for recognition of Affiliated Colleges

University Grants Commission has formed certain guidelines for recognising affiliated colleges under Section 2 (f) &12 (B) of the UGC Act 1956.

The University Grants Commission with the approval of the Central Government has made the following regulations:

Affiliation – A colleges has to be affiliated with a University or it should be a constituent member of a University or is run directly as a University college or is an institution  recognised by a university established  or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State' Act

Academic Courses – The institute applying for a recognition must provide education up to a Bachelor's degree or up to a post-graduate degree or for a post-graduate degree only or provides instructions for a Diploma course of a duration of not less than one academic year and for which the minimum qualification for admission is a Bachelor's degree

Registered Society – The institute must be registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or is a body corporate, established or incorporated under a Central or State Act, for time being in force or is a Trust with trustees being appointed and vested with legal powers and duties. Provided that the requirements of this clause shall not apply in the case of an institution run by the Government or a local authority or any University.

Guarantee – If an institute is not registered as a society, an indemnity bond is to be executed by the registered society or trust by which it is managed or run guaranteeing the proper utilisation of the grants that might be paid by the Commission to the institution and agreeing to refund such part of the grant as may not have been properly utilised for the purpose of the institution and also agreeing to furnish to the Commission the balance sheet of the registered society or trust, as the case may be along with the annual accounts of each of the institutions managed or run by the registered society or trust.

The University while sending proposals for inclusion of affiliated colleges in the list of colleges prepared under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act may also send documentary evidence to the effect that the college/institution is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or is a body corporate or incorporated under Central or State Act for the time being enforced or is a trust, the trustees being appointed and vested with legal powers and duties.

Performa – A Performa is to be filled by the institute mentioning its details like address, affiliation, principal name, subjects taught and other related information. It is to be duly signed by the principal and the registrar before submission.

Documents to be submitted to UGC for purpose of Inclusion of colleges under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956:-

• The Indemnity Bond executed on the specimen prescribed by the! Commission for a Registered Society as the management or trust running the College
• The particulars of the College in the prescribed Performa duly signed by the Principal and counter signed by the Registrar himself.
• An attested copy of the Memorandum of Association of the Society / Trust Deed running the college in English/Hindi version
• An attested copy of the Certificate of Registration of the Society or Trust running the College
• Date of establishment of the College as a degree college
• A latest Photostat copy of the notification regarding affiliation given to the College
• A certificate to the effect that the value of stamps used in executing the Indemnity Bond is correct and is as ascertained from the Collector of stamps of the State
• Resolution of the Governing Body, Board of Trust authorising the person concerning to sign the bond
• Photo copies of the documents should be attested by the Principal

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