(a) the total number of Central Universities in backward and tribal areas
of the country particularly in Maharashtra;
(b) whether the Government proposes to set up new Central Universities in
the country particularly in backward states;
(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and location-wise;
(d) whether the teacher-student ratio in the higher education is very low; and
(e) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps being taken by the Government
in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) There are a total of 44 Central Universities, of which 10 are located in
the North Eastern States of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland. The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University is
located at Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. Only one University exists in state of
Maharashtra, viz. the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwa Vidyalaya, which
is located at Wardha.
(b) & (c) The XI Plan envisaged setting up of one Central University each in States
which did not have any Central University till then.Accordingly, 16 Central Universities
have been established (including conversion of 3 State Universities into Central
Universities) through Central Universities Act, 2009. The 12th Five Year Plan has
yet not been approved.
(d) As per the Report of the Task Force on Faculty Shortage and Design of Performance
Appraisal System, constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development,
the teacher student ratio works out to be 1:20 and there is a need to improve the
teacher student ratio, especially in science & technical courses.
(e) Consequent to enactment of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in
Admissions) Act, 2006, it was decided to increase capacity in all Central Universities
to accommodate reservation for OBCs. Consequently, 5115 teaching positions were newly
sanctioned. Some of these posts have yet to be filled up. In addition, during XI plan,
a large number of positions have been sanctioned for strengthening the existing
departments as well as for opening new departments/ courses in many Universities.
Similarly, in 2009, 16 new Central Universities, including 3 State Universities
converted as Central Universities, were established. Each new Central University
was sanctioned 140 teaching posts. Some of these positions have yet to be filled up.
While communicating the non-plan budget, Central Universities are being instructed
by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to make serious efforts to fill up the
teaching posts at the earliest. The Central Government has impressed upon all
Central Universities to fill up vacancies on an immediate basis. Age of superannuation
of teachers in Central Universities has already been enhanced to sixty five years
vide order dated 23.03.2007. Further, subject to availability of vacant positions
and fitness, teachers can also be re-employed on contract appointment upto the age
of seventy years.