Commissions In India

University Grants Commission India

Having been established as an important statutory organization by the Central Government, formation of University Grants Commission (UGC) was considered an important step for educational uplift and especially to boost university system in the country for overall growth of higher education. This body has suggested several reforms in the university system and works extensively to bring the institutions of higher repute into order through constant reforms and by development initiatives.

About UGC

Central Government established the autonomous statutory body, UGC in the year 1956 to streamline the university system in the country for that this body has been given special powers to take important decisions from thorough coordination to taking steps for reforms in the education system. UGC takes the steps to determine and maintain university education standards for that its team involves in various stages of inspections in the universities besides providing total support to them.

Other important roles for that UGC remains in the notice are providing the timely recognition of Indian universities. This Body involves in the university system through funding them and the colleges which are recognized by the government. It operates from the headquarters in New Delhi besides Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore based 06 regional centers.

Formal inauguration of UGC was held by the then Education, Natural Resources & Scientific Research Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on December 28, 1953 but formal establishment of UGC was held in November 1956. It was constituted under an Act of the Parliament in the year 1956. It has been setup as a crucial body to work as statutory Government body for the reforms.

Mandate

With its formation itself UGC had been mandated to work on various grounds to promote education system in the country for that recommendations were suggested before country’s independence in 1945. The Commission has been given the key roles to oversee the functioning of central and state level universities besides all the colleges working under the government.

It works with a Committee system and is completely entrusted to look into the many affairs of the university education system of the country. It also suggests guidelines for the existing universities and plans for the formation of new ones after thorough research about the need and need fulfillment options. Unique features of UGC functioning is its distinct approach for giving grant to the universities. The key responsibilities are as follows:-

• Provide funds to the universities for their overall growth and development
• Helping out the universities for better coordination & maintenance for the fullest of educational standardization as institutions of higher repute
• Thorough promotion and best possible coordination for university education system in the country
• Ensuring that the teaching, examination and research initiatives are well maintained as per the standards set
• UGC must frames proper regulation to maintain education standard through keeping in view minimum standard level
• Proper monitoring of all sorts of developments in higher education in the universities and colleges and for that it offers them grants for support
• This independent body works as an important link which coordinate between the Central and State governments as far as maintaining higher level learning institutes is concerned
• Guidance and advisory role for the Central and State governments to take the initiative to improve the education system in the country

Recommendation Reports

The UGC has been submitting its report to the respective governments since the central government established this statutory body after country’s independence. The earlier University Education Commission of 1948 had played pivotal role under the guidance of S. Radhakrishnan who served as chairman of that erstwhile Commission then. Once that Commission worked and suggested for the formation of UGC and it was finally reconstituted with the members and strong team reports which kept arriving for betterment. Some of the recent recommendation reports were as follows:-

• To conduct NET tests pan India to appointment teaching staff in the universities and colleges in the country
• Suggesting NET qualification compulsory for teaching criteria for both Graduation and at Post Graduation courses
• Guidelines for accreditation of universities and colleges with extraordinary roles performed in education sector
• Miscellaneous suggestions 

Implementation of Recommendations

Almost all recommendations having been suggested by the UGC have been brought into implementation phase with the minor changes, and in most cases no changes at all. The universities concerned have been brought into more system through using the law to curb the ragging related cases. This agency has been playing important role as an institution whose advisory and administrative roles are of the paramount value. Perhaps it is the one important reason that the government has been implementing most of the recommendations which UGC has recommended till date.