HIGHER EDUCATION
Central Universities On receipt of the report of the Banaras Hindu University Enquiry Committee that revealed a very disquieting state of affairs, the President promulgated the Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Ordi- nance, 1958. The Ordinance was later repealed by an Act of Parlia- ment, which was enacted with effect from the 20th September, 1958 is the Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Act, 1958. Certain reforms in the administration of the University have been introduced both under the Ordinance and the Act, as an interim measure. The recommendations of the Enquiry Committee are at present under examination of the Ministry of Education, in consultation with the University authorities, the University Grants Commission, the U. P. Government and others concerned and it is proposed to formulate and bring long-term amendments to the Banaras Hindu University Act before the Parliament during the course of the next year.
Consequent on his appointment as National Professor, Prof. Sat- yendranath Bose tendered resignation from the Office of the Upacharya (Vice-Chancellor) of the Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. The resignation was accepted by the President in his capacity as the Paridarsaka (Visitor) of the University with effect from 24th December, 1958. On the recommendations of the Karma-Samiti (Executive Council) of the University, the President as the Paridarsaka approved the appointment of Shri Kshitis Chandra Chaudhuri to fill the casual vacancy in the Office of the Upacharya under Section 40 (1) of the Visva-Bharati Act, 1951.
The Lok Sabha elected Shri Balbir Singh, M. P. to be one of its; representatives on the Samsad (Court) of the Visva-Bharati.
The Rajya Sabha has elected Shri P. N. Sapru, M. P., to be one of its representatives on the Court of the Aligarh Muslim University.
The President, in his capacity as the Visitor of the Central Universities nominated or renominated Shri Prem Narain, Deputy Financial Adviser, Government of India and Shri N. N. Iengar, Assis- tant Secretary, University Grants Commission, to be the members. of the Finance Committee of the Universities of Delhi, Aligarh, Banaras and Visva-Bharati.
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35 The President, in his capacity as the Visitor of the Central Universities, also nominated or renominated the following to be the members of the authorities of the Universities bored against each :-
(1) Mr. Justice N. H. Bhagwati Members of the Executive Council, University
(2) Dr. Tara Chand, M.P. of Delhi
(3 Shrimati Renuka Ray Members of the Executive Council, Visva-
(4) Shri K. C. Sen Bharati, Santiniketan
(5) Dr. J. C. Ray
(6) Shri Kshitis Mohan Sen Member, Samsad (Court.) of the Visva-
Bharati
(7) Dr. J. P. Niyogi Member, Selection Committee, Visva-
Bharati
The Prime Minister, in his capacity as the Acharya (Chancellor) of the Visva-Bharati, nominated Dr. Hasan Amir Ali to be a member of the Executive Council of the University.
University Grants Commission In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), the Central Government framed the University, Grants Commission (Returns and Information) Rules, 1957, and the University Grants Commission (Terms, and Conditions of Service of Employees) Rules 1958. These Rules were duly laid on the Tables of both Houses of Parliament.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act. 1956 (3 of 1956) the Central Government declared, on the advice of the University Grants Commission by notification in the official Gazette that the Indian Agricultural Research Institute shall be deemed to be a university for the purpose of the University Grants Commission Act. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, was also declared by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs to be deemed as a university for the purpose of this Act.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section (2) of Section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), the Central Government approved the Regulation framed by the University Grants Commission under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 26 of the said Act, specifying the institutions or class of institutions which may be recognized by the Commission as included in the universities under clause (f) of Section 2 of the Act. The Central Government have also approved the list of degrees prepared by the University Grants Commission under sub-section (3) of Section 22 of the Act.
Out of the total provision of Rs. 4.32 crores for grant-in-aid to the University Grants Commission for 1958-59, a sum of Rs. 4.30 crores
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has so far been placed at the disposal of the Commission. The follow- ing provision has been made for grants to the University Grants Commission :-
Plan
Rs.
(1) Revised Estimates (1958-59) 4,46,00,000
(2) Budget Estimates (1959-60) 4,58,00,000
Non-Plan
(1) Revised Estimates (1958-59) 1,62,40,000
(2) Budget Estimates (1959-60) 2,06,23,000
Three-Year Degree Course.-All the universities have agreed to introduce the three-year degree course, with the exceptions of Bombay University which has rejected the scheme on academic grounds, and the Gorakhpur University which is still considering the matter. Apart from the Universities of Delhi and Jadavpur which had introduced the three-year degree course in 1943-44 and 1956-57 respectively, eighteen universities introduced the reform by 1958-59 and eight universities have decided to implement the scheme during the Second Plan period.
The Central share of assistance, in accordance with the recom- mendations of the Three-Year Degree Course Estimates Committee is being released by the Ministry of Education to the State Governments for Government colleges and by the University Grants Commission to the universities concerned for non-Government colleges with effect from 1958-59.
A sum of Rs. 4 crores represents the allocation to the Ministry of Education under the Second Five-Year Plan for giving Central assis- tance for the implementation of the Three-Year Degree Course. Out of this allocation, the provisions made are as follows :
Revised Estimates for 1958-59
Amount to be released by the Ministry of Education to State
Governments for Government colleges Rs. 35 lakh
Amount to be released by the Ministry of Education to the Univer-
sity Grants Commission for sanctioning it to the universities
concerned for subsequent disbursement to non-Government
colleges Rs. 35 lakh
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TOTAL Rs. 70 lakh
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Budget Estimates for 1959-60
Amount to be released by the Ministry of Education to State Govern-
ments for Government colleges Rs. 25 lakh
Amount to be released by the Ministry of Education to the Univer-
sity Grants commission for sanctioning it to the universities
concerned for subsequent disbursement to non-Government
Colleges Rs. 95 lakh
--------------
TOTAL Rs. 120 lakh
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Besides, the University Grants Commission has earmarked the following amounts from within its own allocation in the Second Five- Year Plan on account of the Central share of assistance for the imple- mentation of this scheme :-
Revised Estimates for 1958-59
Amount to be released by the University Grants Commission to the
universities concerned for non-Government colleges Rs. 80 lakh
Budget Estimates for 1959-60
Amount to be released by the University Grants Commission to the
universities concerned for subsequent disbursement to non-
Government colleges Rs. 120 lakh
The actual expenditure to be incurred will be determined by the University Grants Commission, subject to the overall ceiling of allocation made to it.
An amount equivalent to the Central contribution will be provided by the State Governments and/or private managements.
Loans to Universities and the Constituent Colleges of Delhi Uni- versity for the Construction of Hostels and Staff Quarters.-Since the University Grants Commission has not been vested with the authority to sanction loans to universities, the proposals for loans to universi- ties and the constituent colleges of the University of Delhi for the construction of hostels. and staff quarters are sanctioned by the Cen- tral Government on the recommendations of the Commission. According to a recent decision, all loans to universities etc., have to carry interest at normal rates which are determined in the light of market conditions from time to time, the period of the loan and other relevant considerations. In the case of hostels, the loans are repay- able in 30 annual instalments, whereas in the case of staff quarters, the loans are to be repaid in 25 annual instalments. Up to 7th Janu- ary, 1959, loans amounting to Rs. 6,35,000 were sanctioned during 1958-59 under this scheme. A sum of Rs. 35.0 lakhs had been origi- nally provided for this scheme as budget estimates for 1958-59. According to present indications, it is anticipated that a sum of Rs. 15.0 lakhs only will be needed for this purpose during the current financial year. Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 15.0 lakhs, has been included as revised estimates for 1958-59. For 1959-60, a budget provision of Rs. 30.0 lakhs has been proposed.
Loans to Affiliated Colleges for Construction of Hostels.-In 1957-58, loans amounting to Rs. 12,54,600 had been agreed to for the construction of hostels to affiliated colleges in the States of the Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh and in the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh on the recommendations of the respective State Governments and the Administration. Out of this amount, actually a sum of Rs. 2,25,000 was released as first instalments of the loans.
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During the year under report, a further sum of Rs. 3,86,000 was released up to 8th January, 1959 to these colleges : towards the construction of the hostel buildings. Further amounts will be re- leased in the light of the progress of the construction work.
During 1958-59, the scheme for the grant of loans to educational institutions was further reviewed in the light of the principles laid down by the Ministry of Finance. It has been decided that loans should not be given at concessional rates of interest. If any con- cession is, however, considered necessary it should be given as a straight-forward grant. It has further been decided that from 1958- 59. loans to affiliated colleges will be sanctioned to the State Governments who, in turn, will sanction the loans to individual institutions. In cases where loans to individual institutions have already been sanctioned and the entire amount has not been released, the balance will be paid to the institutions direct. On the basis of this decision, proposals for 1958-59 have been invited from some States and Union Territories.
The original total provision included in the Second Five-Year Plan for loans to affiliated colleges, Secondary educational institu- tions, Teachers' Training colleges, and Basic and Social educational institutions was Rs. 2.0 crores that has now been reduced to Rs. 1.80 crores. Out of this, the following provisions have been included for this scheme in the revised estimates for 1958-59 and budget estimates for 1959-69 :
Revised Budget
Estimates Estimates
1958-59 1959-60
Rs. Rs.
Loans to State Governments for construction of hostels
under the Educational Development schemes 35,00,000 34,00,000
Loans to educational institutions for construction of
hostels under the Educational Development schemes 15,00,000 6,00,000
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TOTAL 50,00,000 40,00,000
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Rehabilitation of the Punjab University at Chandigarh : Under the Second Five-Year Plan, a sum, of Rs. 65 lakhs was originally set apart by the Ministry of Rehabilitation as grant to the Punjab University for its rehabilitation. This project was transferred to this Ministry towards the end of 1957 along with the Plan allocation. An ad hoc grant of Rs. 25 lakhs was sanctioned early in 1958-59 to the University, as a special case, pending a full assessment of its actual needs. A provision of Rs. 40,00,000 has been made in the budget for 1959-60 for this purpose.
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Evening Colleges.-The Government of India approved the proposal of the University of Delhi for opening four Evening Colleges with effect from July, 1958, subject to the condition that the deficit for each college will not exceed Rs. 15,000 per annum per college. This was in pursuance of the decision taken at a joint meeting of the representatives of the Government of India, the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Delhi and Punjab, and a representative of the Dyal Singh College Trust Society, held in November, 1957.
The Punjab University has since decided to transfer their Camp College at New Delhi to the Dyal Singh College Trust Society after 31st March, 1959. It has also accorded affiliation to the Punjab University courses in the College under its new management in accordance with the phased programme drawn up by the Vice-Chancellors of the two Universities concerned. According to this programme, the Punjab University courses will be withdrawn in progressive stages and replaced by the Delhi University courses. This process is expected to be completed by the end of 1961.
A sum of Rs. 20.000 was released to the Delhi University for disbursement to the four Evening Colleges in Delhi out of a provision of Rs. 60,000 for 1958-59. The balance will be released in accordance with the requirements of the colleges by the end of the current financial year. A similar provision of Rs. 60,000 has been included for this purpose in the budget for 1959-60.
Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, New Delhi.-The administration of the Deshbandhu College, Kalkaji, New Delhi, that was one of the affiliated colleges of the University of Delhi was transferred to the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of Rehabilitation towards the latter part of 1957-58. In 1958-59, the College was recognised by the University of Delhi as one of its constituent colleges. As a result of this decision, the College has been included in the "Grants-in-aid" list of the University Grants Commission and will receive grants from the Commission on the basis of the usual formula for payment of recurring and non-recurring grants admissible to the other constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. The balance of the deficit of the College will be met by the Central Government for the present. For 1958-59, it has been agreed, in consultation with the University Grants Commission, that the entire grant to the College will be paid by the Ministry. For 1959-60, the Central Government has made a provision of Rs. 58,000 as grants to this College in respect of its share of the anticipated deficit.
Inter-University Board of India.-The Government of India approved the deputation of Shri U. K. Ayappan Pillai, Secretary, Inter- University Board, to participate in the VIII Congress of the-
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Commonwealth Universities which was held at Montreal (Canada) in September, 1958. The Government agreed to give a grant covering a deficit up to Rs. 8,200 to the Inter-University Board of India for this purpose.
The Government of India approved a proposal of the Board to hold a Conference of University Professors in Biological Sciences a an estimated cost of Rs. 20,000 and released to the Board the first instalment of Rs. 10,000 towards the expenses on the Conference.
Provision exists-in the current year's budget for payment of normal maintenance grant to the Board.
A sum of Rs. 40,200 has been included as grants to the Board in the budget for 1959-60 for the purposes mentioned above.
Strengthening of the Institutions of Higher Learning and Research in India.-A scheme for the strengthening of the institutions of Higher education and research was included under the Second Five-Year Plan. It is now being operated by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs. So far as the Ministry of Education is concerned, a scheme for giving assistance to national institutions of an all-India importance is under preparation. For this scheme, the following provisions have been proposed :
Rs.
(1) Revised Estimates (1958-59) 1.0 lakh
(2) Budget Estimates (1959-60) 5.0 lakhs
States Educational Development Programme-Development of Women's Education in Colleges.-In connection with the States Educational Development Programme for 1957-58, Central assistance was made available to the following State Governments for the development of Women's education in various types of colleges on the basis of 50 per cent of the total expenditure involved in the schemes included in the States Educational Development Programme :
Amount released
Name of State as Central
Assistance
during 1957-58
Rs.
(1) Bihar 25,000
(2) Madhya Pradesh 1,25,000
(3) Mysore 20,000
(4) Jammu & Kashmir 12,500
(5) Orissa 1,72,500
(6) Punjab 65,000
(7) Rajasthan 2,07,768
(8) Uttar Pradesh 1,95,600