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What is the full form of the UGC?
The full form UGC is University Grants Commission. In connection with the UGC Act 1956, it is an activity of the Indian Union Government. Under the Ministry of Human Resources Development & affiliated with the ministry of higher education.
The role of the committee is to organize, evaluate and withstand maximum education standards throughout the nation. It offers acknowledgement to colleges and universities approved by it and disburses funding. The Commission has its head office in New Delhi and its regional headquarters in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhopal, Pune and Bhopal.
Brief History of UGC
From ancient Bharat to modern India, higher education has always been very important in Indian history. Long ago, universities like Nalanda, Taxila, and Vikramsila were famous centers of learning. They attracted students from all over India and countries like Korea, China, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Tibet, and Nepal. Today, India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world, supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure quality education.
The current higher education system in India has roots in the early 19th century, with Mountstuart Elphinstone’s 1823 emphasis on English and European sciences. Lord Macaulay supported this in 1835, and Sir Charles Wood’s 1854 Dispatch structured education from primary to university levels. Key universities like Calcutta, Bombay (now Mumbai), and Madras were established in 1857, followed by Allahabad in 1887.
In 1925, the Inter-University Board (now the Association of Indian Universities) was created to foster cooperation among universities. The first national education plan emerged in 1944 with the Sargeant Report, leading to the formation of the University Grants Committee in 1945. Post-independence, the 1948 University Education Commission, led by Dr. S Radhakrishnan, recommended reorganizing the committee.
In 1952, the Union Government assigned the University Grants Commission (UGC) the responsibility of handling grants for universities. The UGC was formally established in November 1956 as a statutory body to oversee university education standards in India. It has offices in Delhi at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Feroze Shah Road, and the South Campus of the University of Delhi.
Functions of UGC
The role of UGC includes
- Maintain contacts between the State, Union Governments as well as various entities of advanced education.
- Scrutinizes the fast expansion of college and university education in the area.
- Set standards such as CSIR NET, UGC Net & ICAR NET for examinations.
- Develop proposals for basic requirements in education.
- Suggest protocols to the Central & State Governments for compulsory positive improvements in universities and higher education institutions.
What is an UGC approved degree?
The University Grants Commission Act And Rules & Regulations Under The Act, 1956
This publication is produced under the direction and control of the UGC. The Government of India is not responsible for the material reproduced in this copy of the UGC Act, 1956, and its Rules and Regulations. This document is strictly for official use and should not be used for commercial purposes.
View UGC Act 1956 Details – (Hindi Version)
UGC Office – Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
The UGC has established 4 National Facilities Centre in the selected universities as per details given below:-
Western Regional Instrumentation Centre, Mumbai
This Centre was established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1978 under the administration of Mumbai University. Its objective is to train USIC staff and students in the proper use and maintenance of instruments. It also conducts advanced study programs, including workshops and seminars, for teachers, research workers from universities, national laboratories, and industries.
Recommendations of the XI Plan Review Committee.
M.S.T. Radar Facilities, Sri Venkateshwar University, Tirupati
The University Grants Commission (UGC) established a center for MST (Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere) Radar applications in the Physics Department at SU University, Tirupati, in 1990. This center was set up to make use of the National MST Radar facilities at Gadanki, which were developed by researchers and scientists from Indian universities.
Recommendations of the XI Plan Review Committee.
Inter University Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences IUCHSS, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
The main objectives of the Centre are to invite teachers from universities and colleges to the institute as associate of the IUC, organise “Research Seminars” for researchers and young teachers in University and Colleges and to organize “Study weeks” for discussing important problems of National and international interest.
Recommendations of the XI Plan Review Committee.
Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, Madras
This centre was established in 1982 with the following objectives.
- To develop facilites for growth and growth and characterization of crystal of technological and industrial importance.
- To bridge the gap between needy industries and Lab. Res.
- To cater the needs of various institutions in India with regard to requirements of special crystal for Research etc.
Recommendations of the XI Plan Review Committee.
Conclusion
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a key body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, established by the UGC Act of 1956. It is responsible for setting and maintaining high education standards across the nation, accrediting universities and colleges, and providing funding. The UGC’s head office is in New Delhi, with regional offices in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhopal, and Pune.
FAQ's - Your Quick Reference Guide
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a legal organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It was created by an Act of Parliament in 1956. Its main roles are to promote and coordinate university education, set and maintain standards for teaching, exams, and research in universities, and carry out its functions according to this Act. Besides providing grants to eligible universities and colleges, the UGC also advises the Central and State Governments on important steps needed to develop higher education.
The mandate of the UGC is to take all steps as it may think fit for the promotion and coordination of University education and for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities
Both are degree granting Institutions. The criteria and procedure of their establishment is different. Universities are established by Central/State Act under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 whereas an Institution Deemed to be University is declared by a Notification of the Central Government, on the advice of UGC, under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
The criteria/norms to establish a State Private University is as decided by the concerned State Government. The Higher Education Department of the concerned State can be contacted in this regard.
UGC is maintaining list of Universities on its website. Name of a University is included in this list after receipt of the University Act as passed by the Parliament/State Legislature
UGC provides financial assistance to only those Universities/Colleges which are included in the list maintained by the UGC under Section 12 B of the UGC Act, 1956.
The Universities established by an Act of Central or State Government are valid Universities.
All the Institutions Deemed to be Universities which are declared by the Notification of the Central Government are valid Deemed to be Universities.
Degrees obtained through distance mode are valid only if approval is given by the UGC to the University/Deemed to be University to offer the programme. Details of the Universities/ Deemed to be Universities empowered to offer courses under distance mode are available at UGC website.