UGC sets tougher norms for deemed universities

UGC sets tougher norms for deemed universities

New Delhi: The Centre’s reservation policy for other backward classes (OBC), scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC/ST) will now also be applicable to all government-run deemed universities.
According to fresh regulations announced by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the government’s deemed universities cannot escape the reservation laws that are applicable to central educational institutions like IITs and IIMs.
After finding fault in 44 deemed universities, the UGC has formulated new tough regulations for these institutions.
An officer in human resource development (HRD) ministry clarified that the Act is only for central government institutions and does not cover private institutes. There are about 40 government-owned deemed universities while 90 belong to private sector.
The new regulations, to be effective from the coming academic session, provide more teeth to the UGC in maintaining control over deemed universities. The UGC can order freeze on admissions and advise withdrawal of deemed status if the institutions are found violating norms.
Admissions have to be on merit basis and the fee structure shall have a reasonable relation to the cost of running the course, the norms said.
Institutions not maintained or financed by government have to maintain a corpus fund of Rs8-25-crore permanently in the name of the institution by way of irrevocable government securities.
A deemed university cannot use the word “University” but can mention the words “deemed-to-be-university” within parenthesis suffixed. Only educational institutions established by the central government can prefix the words “Indian/National” institutes with their respective names.

Source Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/report_ugc-sets-tougher-norms-for-deemed-universities_1382859