(a) whether the Government has chalked out any comprehensive strategy to bring about the
Nation-wide common syllabus and curriculum for University Education;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the total grant sanctioned/ expenditure incurred in the last three years, year-wise for the
various Universities under the University Grants Commission?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) & (b): Although the Universities have the flexibility and freedom in designing their own
curriculum and syllabi, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for
Technical Education (AICTE) have prepared model curriculum in various disciplines for
elective and compulsory courses with a view to enhancing quality in Higher Education.
These courses’ syllabi are reviewed periodically. UGC has also requested the Vice-
Chancellors of all Universities to upgrade and review their curriculum every three years for
making them more skill oriented and interdisciplinary and with a purpose of making the
students employable. The introduction of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is another
important measure taken by UGC to enhance academic standards and quality in higher
education through innovation and improvements in curriculum, teaching-learning process,
examination and evaluation systems. CBCS provides a ‘cafeteria’ type approach in which
the students can take courses of their choice, learn at their own pace, undergo additional
courses, acquire credits, and adopt an interdisciplinary approach to learning. The courses in
such programmes are of three kinds – core, elective and foundation. The introduction of
CBCS will ensure modulation of syllabi and semesterisation. UGC has so far designed
syllabi templates for 91 mainline and 18 specialised courses.
(c): Details of Grants released to various Universities during the last three years are as
follows:
<pre>
Year Grants released
(Rs. in Crore)
2014-15 9713.80
2015-16 10069.78
2016-17 10454.94
</pre>
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