Govt releases new UGC regulations for deemed universities

The UGC Act 1956 empowers the central government to confer the status of Institutions Deemed to be Universities on institutions other than universities. These regulations govern the process of declaration, establishment of off-campus centers, eligibility criteria, and governance for deemed universities. The earlier set of regulations were introduced in 2010 and subsequently revised in 2016 and 2019.

These simplified guidelines are aimed at promoting a culture of excellence and prioritizing quality in higher education. By strengthening the research ecosystem, these regulations are expected to have a profound and long-term impact on transforming the higher education landscape of the country,Pradhan said and commended the UGC for timely reforms aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.

In line with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and to streamline the existing regulations, the UGC constituted an expert committee to review and revise the regulations. The draft regulations underwent rigorous stages of finalization, incorporating inputs from the expert committee, public feedback, and suggestions from the Commission. The final draft regulations were then forwarded to the Ministry of Education for concurrence.

Replacing the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2019, the new regulations are based on a “light but tight” regulatory framework, as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020. These regulations align with the policy’s objectives of providing higher education that fosters excellence in various fields of knowledge, strengthening the research ecosystem, and promoting socially responsive teaching, learning, research, and fieldwork.

Secondly, the eligibility criteria for institutions seeking deemed university status include NAAC ‘A’ grade with a minimum CGPA of 3.01 for three consecutive cycles, NBA accreditation for two-thirds of eligible programs for three consecutive cycles, ranking in the top 50 in specific NIRF categories for the past three years, or ranking in the top 100 of overall NIRF rankings for the past three years.

Additionally, a cluster of institutions managed by multiple sponsoring bodies can also apply for deemed university status. The regulations also allow institutions deemed to be universities to start new courses or programs in any field on their existing campuses and approved off-campus centers, subject to the approval of their Executive Council and relevant statutory council.

The regulations prioritize quality and monitoring, as deemed universities with NAAC grades below ‘A’ or rankings beyond 100 in the current NIRF rankings will be closely monitored by UGC expert committees. Failure to rectify identified deficiencies may result in the withdrawal of permission to start new courses or programs.

The regulations mandate deemed universities to comply with fee structure and seat allocation regulations issued by relevant statutory bodies. Institutions are encouraged to provide fee concessions, scholarships, and reserved seats for socially and economically deprived students.

Updated: 02 Jun 2023, 05:41 PM IST