MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): There are several international ranking systems; Which use different values, indices and parameters to rank higher educationalinstitutibns. None of these systems are universally accepted and are open to criticism. Some of these parameters may not be relevant for Indian higher educational institutions and therefore, these rankings do not necessarily constitute a valid basis for benchmarking of Indian institutions.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. While figuring among the top universities of the world may be a desirable objective, Government policy focuses not just on the qualitative aspects of higher education but access, equity and inclusion as well.
(e): The Government has taken various measures for improving the standards of research in the country. These include the continuous increase in successive plan allocations for scientific depart- ments, the setting up of new institutions for science education and research, the creation of centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and national institutes, the establishment of new and attractive fellowships, strengthening of the infrastructure of Research & Development (R&D) in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, the recognition of R&D units and national awards for outstanding R&D for industries etc.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken various measures for educational reforms, such as the introduction of a semester system, the regular updating of curricula and implementation of the Choice Based Credit Systems (CBCS), etc. The UGC has issued the UGC Minimum Qualifi- cations for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, Regulations, 2010 for improving the standard of teaching in IndTan universities. It has also issued the Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions, Regulations, 2012 whereby all eligible higher edu- cational institutions are required to get themselves accredited.
UGC also implements various schemes aimed at improving the quality of higher education, such as Universities with Potential for Excellence (UPE), Colleges with Potential for Excellence (CPE), Special Assistance Programme (SAP), and Basic Scientific Research (BSR) etc. Apart from these, the UGC has also issued the Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions, Regulations 2012, which provide a framework for academic collaboration between Indian and foreign higher educational institutions.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the overall quality of existing State higher educational institutions is sought to be improved by ensuring their conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adoption of accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework. Certain academic, administrative and governance reforms are a precondition for receiving funding under RUSA.
