(a) whether the Government is monitoring the functioning of Universities in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has satisfied with the performance of the existing universities in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the remedial measures proposed to be adopted in this regard?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical education is vested with the Union as Entry 66 of List I (Union List) of the VIIth Schedule of the Constitution. Accordingly, the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956, which has been enacted pursuant to Entry 66 of List I of the Constitution of India, has set up the UGC for provision for co-ordination and determination of standards in Universities. In exercise of the powers vested with it under Section 12 and 26 of the UGC Act, 1956, the UGC has laid down several Regulations for maintaining standards in Universities. These Regulations are available on the UGC website at http://www.ugc.ac.in/page /UGC-Regulations.aspx.
Further, as per the provisions of Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, Deemed to be Universities are declared by the Government of India, on the advice of the UGC. The UGC(Establishment and maintenance of standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003 and the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010 regulate the establishment and operation of Private Universities and Deemed to be Universities respectively.
The UGC, as per the provisions of Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1956 has also specified a list of Degrees which a University can grant.
(c) to (e): The UGC (Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, notified on 19th January, 2013, have made it mandatory for each Higher Educational Institution to get accredited by an Accreditation Agency after passing out of two batches or six years, whichever is earlier, in accordance with the norms and methodology prescribed by such agency or the UGC, as the case may be. Further as per these Regulations, every Higher Educational Institution, which has completed six years of existence or two batches having passed out, whichever is earlier, has to apply within six months from the date of coming into force of these Regulations, to the Accreditation Agency, for accreditation.
The Government of India had constituted a Review Committee in 2009 to review the functioning of the existing Deemed-to-be-Universities. The Review Committee categorized 38 Deemed-to-be- Universities in category A (fit to continue), 44 in category B (deficient in some aspects and could rectify those deficiencies within a time frame of three years) and 44 in category C (unfit to continue). The 44 Institutions found unfit have filed cases in Supreme Court and the matter is presently sub-judice.
Private Universities are regulated by the UGC as per provisions contained in the UGC (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities), Regulations, 2003. These private universities are inspected by the UGC with the help of concerned Statutory Council(s). Out of the 185 State Private Universities, the UGC Expert Committees have already visited 85 Private Universities. The reports of UGC visiting Committees are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/privatuniversity.aspx.
Apart from the above reviews, the UGC and the Ministry also review the progress made by Central Universities from time to time.