THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a)&(b): Yes, Sir. It has been alleged, inter-alia, in the news item that the Astrology has no scientific base and, therefore, it was inappropriate to introduce it as such into the University Curriculum.
(c): The UGC has received proposals from 26 universities for setting up of the Department of Jyotir Vigyan. The list of these 26 universities is enclosed as Annexure-`A`.
(d) to (f): The salient features of the guidelines are that the courses would be available at graduate, post-graduate and research levels. The duration of the graduate courses will be for three years and that at the post-graduate level for 2 years. On completion of one year of the course at the graduate level, a candidate would be given a certificate. On completion of two years, he would be given a diploma and a degree on completion of three years. For Ph.D. and research courses, similar provisions as in other courses would apply. Syllabus for all the courses would be determined by the UGC. The UGC would also provide adequate support in terms of academic and supporting staff as well as for guest faculty. Universities offering such courses could also go in for academic collaboration with faculties of oriental studies and Sanskrit Vidyapeeths. The courses would commence from the 1st of July, 2001 and would be open to review by the UGC.
The introduction of the course on Jyotir Vigyan has occasioned some discussion in the media, with opinions expressed both for and against the UGC`s decision.
