Question : Non-performing Universities

(a) whether the Government has recently identified or proposes to identify a number of ‘non-performing or lackadaisically performing centrally funded Universities across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has asked UGC to inspect all the identified universities to track their performance and find a way out to resolve the issues;

(d) if so, the factual cause of under-performing centrally funded universities; and

(e) the steps Union Government propose to take to remove any bottlenecks in the functioning of such universities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (e): As per the Section 12 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956, UGC’s main responsibility is to promote and coordinate University education and determine and maintain standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities.

Section 12 (d) of the UGC Act empowers the UGC to recommend to any University the measure necessary for the improvement of University education and advise it upon the action to be taken for the purpose of implementing such recommendation.

Further, UGC is also competent to cause an inspection of any department or departments thereof under Section 13(1) of the UGC Act, 1956 after due consultation with the University concerned to ascertain the financial needs of the University or its standards of teaching, examination and research.

Thus, UGC, if need so arises, is competent to decide on undertaking any review/inspection as it deems fit to achieve the mandated objective of promotion and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities.