UGC DRAFT GUIDELINES: RECOGNITION OF COLLEGES UGC’S INITIATIVE
Why in the News?
- University Grants Commission (UGC) releases draft guidelines for college recognition.
- Seeks public feedback on “UGC (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023”.
Source: Maps of India
About Key Conditions :
- Colleges must comply with UGC Act provisions and affiliate with a university following UGC (Affiliation of Colleges by Universities) Regulations.
- Offer programs leading to degrees or diplomas of at least one academic year, with a minimum admission requirement of a Bachelor’s degree.
- All existing colleges must acquire UGC recognition within three years of the regulations’ notification. Colleges established/affiliated post-notification should seek recognition within three years of their establishment.
- Universities are responsible for verifying submitted documents.
- Failure to address deficiencies post-verification could lead to withdrawal of recognition under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956.
About University Grants Commission (UGC)
- UGC is a statutory body under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, established by the UGC Act 1956.
- Originated as the University Grants Committee in 1945.
- Initially supervised Aligarh, Banaras, and Delhi Central Universities.
- Expanded in 1947 to oversee all Indian universities.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Regional Centers: Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Bangalore.
- Key Responsibilities
- Coordinates, determines, and maintains standards of higher education in India.
- Grants recognition to universities and facilitates fund disbursements.
- Conducts various Eligibility Tests for appointments in colleges and universities.