HIGHER EDUCATION & RESEARCH
The Ministry of Education is Primary concerned with the maintenance and determination of standards in higher education, a function discharged through the University Grants Commission. Special emphasis has been laid in the programme for the consolidation and improvement of the quality of education. The Ministry has also been paying special attention to the improvement of the facilities available for students and to the enhancement of the status of teachers. The Ministry has also funded separate organisations for the promotion of social science and historical research. Provision of scholarship facilities for meritorious students in higher education has been separately dealt with in Chapter IV.
The institutions of the Government of India in this field are :- (i) the University Grants Commission (ii) the Central Universities, viz the Aligarh Muslim University, the Banaras, Hindu University, the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi, Visva Bharati, the North-Eastern Hill University and the recently set up University at Hyderabad, (iii) the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, (iv) the Indian institute of Advanced Study, Simla, (v) the Indian Council of Social Science Research and (vi) the Indian Council of Historical Research.
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION The Commission continued to provide financial assistance for the ongoing general development programmes of universities and colleges accepted by it in the earlier plans. These include additional teaching and technical staff, scientific equipment, books: and journals, academic buildings, student hostels and staff quarters. The Commission has also completed a review of the working of the major quality programmes started by it. Such programmes which continue to be assisted include the Centres, of Advanced Study, Faculty improvement, Improvement of selected university departments and College Science Improvement Programmes. New quality and innovative programmes like examination reform, autonomous colleges, restructuring of courses, support for research and College Humanities Improvement Programmes have also been started. A detailed report of the activi- ties of the UGC will be made separately to Parliament. The, following programmes/problems/policies need emphasis.
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During the Fifth Plan the main emphasis would be on con- solidation, strengthening and proper orientation of the existing departments so that I there would be considerable restraint on expansion of enrolment in formal and full time education particularly at the undergraduate stage. Since a higher proportion of students go in for post graduate courses, post-graduate teaching would be consolidated as far as possible. Special efforts would be made to remove regional imbalances and to provide opportunities for higher education for the under privileged sections of society.
General education courses in Arts, Science and Commerce particularly at the undergraduate level will be diversified and such courses would be planned as far as possible in collaboration with appropriate industries, trade, and business organisations in the neighbourhood. The new plan proposals received from the universities are being assessed with the help of Expert Committees and on the basis of their recommendations, the Fifth Plan proposals of the universities will be finalised. Development proposals within an outlay of Rs. 5 lakhs per college have also, been invited for improvement of educational facilities at the undergraduate level.
There will be restraint in the establishment of new universities for which guidelines have been communicated by the Commission to all State Governments. There will also be restraint in the establishment of now colleges as the Commission's assistance to new colleges set up after June, 1972, would be available to only permanently affiliated colleges.
The Commission has devised since 1970-71 programmes for improvement of college education through College Science Improvement Programme. At present 26 university departments and 117 colleges are participating in this programme which has helped the selected departments and colleges to bring about significant improvement in undergraduate science teaching. It has also been possible under this programme to produce new text materials, new demonstration equipment and other teaching aids for class rooms as well as laboratory work. A similar programme has been initiated in 1974-75 to strengthen the teaching of the Humanities and Social Science subjects at the under- graduate level in colleges and to provide opportunities to under- graduate, students to develop an aptitude, interest and ability in the study of the subjects of their choice. 42 colleges have so far been selected under this programme.
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An Expert Committee is drawing up a programme for reorienting the courses of study, suited to rural environment and urban needs. This is part of a major effort to restructure the present courses of study so as to make, them move relevant to the country's developmental needs. Special diploma courses for improving the employability of students have been started in a number of universities like Gujarat, Andhra, Jammu and Madras.
A number of production units have been established in uni- versities like Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Banaras Hindu University to provide to students practical experience of work. An Expert Committee is at present drawing up details of projects for linking education with work, experience.
The Commission has accorded priority to faculty improvement programmes and faculty awards. Institutional faculty improvement programmes have also been integrated with the college Science Improvement Programmes and College Humanities Programmes.
Provision for research fellowships in Science, Humanities and Social science subjects as well as in Engineering and Technology continued to be made. Assistance continued to be given towards provision of student amenities and student welfare.
The Commission has initiated a substantial programme of examination reforms and has drawn up a 'Plan of Action'. To begin with, 12 universities have been invited to set up special cells for this purpose to act As pace-setters. New methods of teaching and new examination questions will be developed on the basis of class room experience and suited to the levels and attainments of different groups of students.
Autonomy to Colleges The Commission has also initiated steps towards giving autonomy to selected colleges so that they can experiment with new educational processes and bring about necessary changes in the teaching, courses of study and evaluation of techniques. The guidelines and criteria for selecting such institutions have been communicated to the universities and the process of selection of such institutions has also been started.
Institutions Deemed to be Universities (i) Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
(ii) Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar.
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(iii) Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad.
(iv) Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay
These institutions are paid maintenance grants on cover-the- deficit basis and their matching share on development grants as approved by the University Grants Commission. These institutions continued their normal activities during the year.
Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, another deemed University, was, notified as a State University under the U.P. State Universities Act.
Revision of Salary Scales of University and College Teachers On the recommendation of the University Grants Commission the Government of India have approved further revision of pay-scales of University and College teachers. The approved revised pay-scales are as follows:
Universities
Lecturers Rs. 700-40-1100-50-1600
Reader Rs. 1200-50-1500-60-1900
Professor Rs. 1500-60-1800-100-2000-125/2-2500
Affiliated Colleges (Postgraduate and Undergraduate)
Demostrator/Tutor (existing
incumbents) Rs. 500-20-700-25-900
Lecturer Rs. 700-40-1100-50-1300-assessment
50-1600
Principal (i) Rs. 1200-50-1300-60-1900
(ii) Rs. 1500-60-1800-100-2000-125/22500
The Government of India, Ministry of Education have conveyed sanction to the University Grants Commission for implementation of the revised scales of pay for teachers in Central Universities. A similar sanction has been issued in respect of Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and the Indian Institute of Science. University Grants Commission has since intimated the decision of the Government to the Central Universities. The revised scales will be effective from January 1, 1973. The Government of India have also offered to the State Governments financial assistance for the introduction of
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the pay scales approved for the teachers in Central Universities. Central assistance will also be available even if the State Govern- ments decide to introduce scales of pay different from but not higher than those for Central Universities. The revised, scales may be made effective from 1-1-1973 or from a later date. The Central assistance to the States will be to the extent of 80% of the additional expenditure involved and will be available for the period from 1-1- 1973 or the date of implementation to March 31, 1979.
The revision of scales of pay will be subject to certain conditions regarding the mode of appointment of teachers in colleges, age of superannuation, remuneration for examination work etc.
The pay fixation in the revised scales of pay will be according to the formula suggested by the Third Pay Commission and accepted by the Government.
ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY The Executive Council, in accordance with the provisions in the University Act and the amended Statutes duly approved by the Union Ministry of Education and Social Welfare was constituted in June 1974, and the first meeting of the re-constituted Executive Council was held on 25th June 1974. The Court of the University has not so far been re-constituted as representatives of some of the constituencies of the Court have not been elected.
Professor K.A. Nizami, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, who was acting as Vice-Chancellor in place of Professor Abdul Aleem, who resigned from the office on 3-1-1974, relinquished his office on 30-8-1974, and Professor H.L. Sharma, the senior most Professor took over as Vice- Chancellor. This temporary arrangement continued till 19th September, 1974, and Professor A.M. Khusro, Director, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, appointed as Vice-Chancellor under Statute 2, took over charge on 20th September 1974.
Games, Sports and Other Cultural Activities The different clubs, under the Games and Cultural Committees, continued their activities unabated during the period under report. The students took full share of the facilities available. One of the university players in Cricket was appointed as Captain of the U.P. Cricket team for the C.K. Naidu trophy. The Volley Ball team participated in the Inter-University tournament.
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Representation in Conferences The University teachers continued to Participate in International Conferences/Symposia/Seminars in and outside India as usual.
Dr. Mohammed Ahmad achieved a unique distinction by presiding over the 7th Annual Meeting of the International Study Group for Research in Cardiac Metabolism held at Quebec city, Canada, as a Chairman of the Conference.
Mr. S. A. Abbas, Principal, University Polytechnic paid a visit to Iraq as a member of the Indian Delegation appointed by the Government of India to discuss with the Government of Iraq the outlines of the Project report compiled by the delegation in respect of the three Institutes of Technology which the Government of India has undertaken to build in Iraq on a turn-key basis.
Seminars Within the Campus of the University also, several seminars were held as in the past years.
Distinguished Visitors During the year under report several distinguished visitors were received at the University. Special mention may be made of the Visit of His Highness Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates.
Extension Services The Extension Services Unit working under the Department of Education and the Maulana Azad Library continued their activities during the year.
Archaeological Laboratory The Archaeological laboratory set up at the Centre of' Advanced Study, Department of History has given a fillip to the work of archaeological investigation on plant remains found in excavations by the Centre.
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Development proposals of the University Under the Fifth Five
Year Plan The University has submitted various schemes for the development of curricular and extra-curricular activities of the University during the Fifth Plan period, and the, proposals are now under the consideration of the University Grants Commission. The University is awaiting approval of the Commission before embarking upon the implementation of the various schemes.
Building Projects Considerable progress in the completion of certain academic and non-academic buildings has been made particularly after the work was entrusted to the National Biuldings Construction Corporation.
Finances The University did not have much relief in the financial diffi- culties it has been passing through. The U.P. State Government has released a grant of Rs. 7.50 lakhs this year towards the maintenance of the beds in the Hospital attached to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. Though sufficient economy has been effected in various items, of expenditure under the normal budget during the current year, due to the steep rise in the cost of materials, books, paper and laboratory running expenses, the budgetary provisions have proved to be inadequate.
The University Grants Commission has released so far a sum of Rs. 3,01,89,000/- towards the maintenance, budget of the University. A grant of Rs. 53,23,000/- has also been received towards the payment of arrears to the staff on account of the revision of scales of pay. In addition to the above, the Commission also, sanctioned grants, under 10 other categories to meet the immediate requirements of the University.
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
Conferences, Seminars, etc. During the year under review, 79 teachers were deputed to attend seminars, conferences etc. within the country and 18 teachers were deputed to attend international conferences. Besides, 4 teachers also visited foreign countries under various schemes.. 2-5 eminent educationists from abroad visited the University under
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the various exchange programmes. The following symposia and conferences were held : (i) a six-day refresher programme for college teachers in Economics and Commerce (ii) Indo-French Seminar on Embryology (iii) All India Advanced Level Summer Institute in Animal Physiology and (iv) All India Conference on Women's education at Mahila Vidyalaya (Women's College) of the University.
Appointments The promotions under the Personnel Promotion Scheme ware almost completed during the course of the year. 48 Lecturers were promoted to the posts of Readers and 24 Readers were promoted to the posts of Professors. A total of 5 Professors, 13 Readers and 64 Lecturers were appointed on a permanent basis in the various departments of the University.
Research Projects 3 Research projects were sanctioned during the year. A training programme for laboratory and workshop technicians was organised during June-July, 1974. During the year, the University awarded 165 Ph.D. and 4,932 under-graduate and graduate degrees. 3 teachers of the University received Fellowships/ Medals.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance to Students The University provides 210 Research Scholarships of the value of Rs. 250/- p.m. Out of these, 90 were awarded during the year and the remaining were renewed. Nearly 60 Junior Research Fellowships of the value of Rs. 300/- p.m. (now raised to Rs. 400/- p.m.) were also awarded. Besides these, 370 U.G.C./ C.S.I.R. Junior/Senior Research Fellowships and Post-Doctoral Fellowships were sanctioned to the students of the University. The students were given special financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 18,062/- out of the Students Welfare Fund. Such Research Scholars who did not receive any scholarships were given assistance to the extent of Rs. 14,000/- for typing of their theses.
Development The projects undertaken by the University under the Four Five Year Plan were completed except a few buildings, partly on account of the ban on construction work and partly due to the size and nature of the building projects. The University was able
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to consolidate its activities and introduce new courses on Linguistics and Journalism, Post-Graduate courses in Engineering and Technology and Medical Sciences. The various laboratories were equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment and the libraries were enriched. In the field of Games and Sports, additional coaches were provided for most of the important games, games material were made available to the students, playfields were developed and swimming pools were improved. Additional hostel accommodation was provided with better dining, water and lighting facilities. 71 additional quarters for both academic and non-academic staff were also constructed.