CHAPTER V HIGHER EDUCATION
In the field of higher education, the Union Ministry of Education is responsible for the maintenance of the four Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras, Delhi and Visva-Bharati. It is also responsible for the coordination and maintenance of standards ME higher education and it is for this purpose that the University Grants Commission was constituted in 1953.
2. Grants are paid, through the University Grants Commission, to the Central Universities on hundred per cent basis, both for their maintenance and development, and to State Universities on a sharing basis for their development projects only. In addition to statutory universities, grants are also paid by this Ministry as well as the University Grants Commission to institutions declared as 'deemed to be universities' under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, for maintenance and development.
A-CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES 3. Some of the significant developments in the Central Uni- versities have been briefly indicated below.
Aligarh Muslim University 4. The President, in his capacity as the Visitor of the Aligarh Muslim University, has appointed Dr. Abdul Aleem as Vice-Chancellor of the University vice Nawab Ali Yavar Jung who has been appointed India's Ambassador to the USA.
5. The total number of students on the rolls of the University as on 1st September, 1967 was 6,669. From the current academic session the University has introduced semester system and the honours courses in the faculties of arts, science and commerce. A part-time degree course in engineering for diploma-holders with some experience in profession has also been introduced this year.
6. A new scheme for the establishment of an Institute of West Asian Studies has also been introduced.
Banaras Hindu University 7. The President, in his capacity as the Visitor of the Uni- versity, appointed Dr. A. C. Joshi as Vice-Chancellor, vice Dr. Triguna Sen, consequent upon the latter's joining the Union Cabinet as Education Minister.
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8. The various bodies of the University have been reconstituted in accordance with the provision of the Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Act of 1966.
9. The total number of students on the rolls during the year 1967-68 was 9,540.
10. Semester system, with two university examinations in a year, has been introduced in several departments in a number of faculties
11. A major decision taken by the Court of the University refers to the introduction of Hindi as medium of education. The Court has also directed that a Hindi Medium Board be appointed immediately to implement this decision and bring out necessary literature for this purpose. The matter has since been considered by various faculties and the Academic Council and it has been decided to continue instruction both 'in Hindi and English medium for the time being.
12. The University was the venue of two important Congresses- Indian Philosophical Congress and the Indian Science Congress.
Delhi University 13. The University had on its rolls 43,542 students in July 1967. In addition, 7,378 students were registered with the Directorate of Correspondence Course, 1,650 women students with Non- Collegiate, Women Education Board and 142 teachers with the Central Institute of Education for the B.Ed. Correspondence Course.
14. Permission was given to seven new colleges to start pre- paring students for university courses.
15. Eighteen eminent scholars have jointed the University as, visiting professors, in various departments. The Ford Foundation conveyed its approval for grant of five million dollars to the University during the next five years for scientific equipment, library, demonstration staff, housing and other needs of Humanities and Social Sciences Departments. The University has appointed a number of expert committees for formulating broad outlines for utilising the assistance from the Ford Foundation to the best possible extent.
Visva-Bharati 16. The University has started two new courses from 1967-68 academic session, a five-year degree course in fine arts and crafts and a five-year diploma course in fine arts and crafts.
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17. The seventh all-India seminar on 'Basic Religious Attitude- Jnana-Bhakti-Karma" was held under the auspices of the Centre for Advanced Study in Philosophy at the University during the period under review.
Jawaharlal Nehru University 18. The Delhi Administration has acquired about 600 acres of land out of the total of about 1,000 acres needed for the University war village Munirka, New Delhi, for the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Action to acquire the remaining land is in progress. The appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and setting up of Academic and Advisory Committees is under active consideration.
B. INSTITUTIONs DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITIES 19. During the year under report, one more institution, viz., The Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, has been declared as a deemed university' under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. This brings the total number of 'deemed' universities to ten.
20. Five 'deemed' universities, namely, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, and Indian School of Internatonal Studies, New Delhi were paid maintenance grants on cover- the-deficit basis in respect of the courses for which they have been declared as 'deemed' universities.' No item of capital expenditure has been included in the maintenance grant. Matching share on development schemes sanctioned by the University Grants Commission is also being paid by the Government of India. The quantum of recurring and non-re- curring development grant is determined by the University Grants Commission.
21. Grants amounting to Rs. 22,66,617 towards maintenance and development grant to these institutions have been released so far.
22. The Estimates Committee of the Lok Sabha examined the estimates of the Indian School of International Studies on. 29th and 30th December, 1967. A Committee to look into the financial requirements of the School has also been appointed.
23. The work relating to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, has been transferred to the Ministry of Education from the Department of Social Welfare. The Ministry will meet the financial needs of the Institute with effect from 1968-69.
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C. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION 24. The number of universities has risen to 70 and of institutions 'deemed to be universities' to 10. During 1966-67, the number of colleges (excluding university departments) rose to 2,749. The student enrolment in the university and colleges in 1966-67 has gone up from 17,28,873 to 19,49,012.
25. Development Grants to Universities: The Commission continued to provide grants to universities and institutions 'deemed to be universities' for the implementation of the development programmes accepted by the Commission.
26. The development grants paid to the universities and institutions 'deemed to be universities' in April-December 1967, were as follows :
(1) SCIENCE SUBJECTS
Purpose Amount Paid
(Rs. in lakh)
(a) Books and journals 18.55
(b) Science equipment 46.42
(c) Additional staff 19.37
(d) Buildings 59.23
143.57
(II) HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Purpose Amount Paid
(Rs. in lakh)
(a) Books and journals 14.70
(b) Equipment 1.22
(c) Additional Staff 37.37
(b) Buildings (including library buildings) 28.45
81.74
27. Engineering and Technology: The Commission also sanctioned development grants to the universities and institutions maintained by them for higher education in the field of engineering and technology for the improvement of existing facilities, five-year integrated courses, development of pharmaceutical education, courses in management studies, postgraduate courses and research in engineering and technology, etc. Emphasis was, however, on programmes of consolidation and development instead of expansion. The total payments to the
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universities and institutions maintained by them during April-December 1967 amounted to Rs. 1.19 crore.
28. Maintenance Grants to Central Universities: The Commission continued to provide maintenance grants, in addition to those for development, on hundred per cent basis, to universities established or incorporated by a Central Act. The payment made to the universities in respect of maintenance grants during April-December 1967 amounted to Rs. 5.18 crore.
29. The rules pertaining to the introduction of the General Provident Fund-cum-Pension-cum-Gratuity and Contribution Provident Fund-cum-Gratuity in the Central Universities were approved by the Government of India and circulated to these universities for framing the necessary statutes.
30. Centres of Advanced Study: The Commission continued to provide special assistance to selected university departments recognised as Centres of Advanced Study for the 'pursuit of excellence', and to improve quality and standards at the postgraduate and research levels. In addition to the 26 university departments selected as Centres of Advanced Study during the third Plan period, the Commission agreed to the recognition of a Centre of Advanced Stud in Mathematics at the Madras University. The Centre will bring together university department and the Ramanujan Institute of Mathematics and enable them to pool their resources and facilities for improving the quality of research and training in mathematics.
31. Some of these Centres received, as in the previous years, assistance from UNESCO and the, Government of United Kingdom in the form of experts, fellowships and equipment.
32. Summer Institutes/Schools, Seminars and Conferences: The programme of summer institutes/schools, seminars and conferences designed to acquaint teachers with current developments in their fields of works and to provide opportunities for discussions, was continued.
33. Sixty summer institutes in science subjects for school teachers were organised in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training, the National Science Foundation of the United States, and the US Agency for International Development, at different centres during the summer of 1967. About 2,380 teachers participated in this, programme and the services of 81 American consultants were made available. In addition, the Commission organised in collaboration with various bodies, 51 summer institution in science subjects,
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9 in English language and one each in agriculture and political theory and behaviour for college teachers. A summer institute in chemistry was also organised for undergraduate students.
34. Review Commitees: A number of review committees appointed to assess the existing facilities, syllabi and standards of teaching and research in a number of important subjects have completed their work. The reports of the review committees on English, social work, sociology, library science, education, political science and philosophy have been printed. The committees concerned with psychology, history and economics have also finalised their reports. The review committees have recommended improved syllabi and made other valuable recommendations for raising the level of academic achievements in the disciplines concerned.
35. Programmes for Teachers : It is obvious that the success of all plans of development depends largely on teachers. The Commission have already approved a number of programmes, for the benefit of the teachers in the universities and colleges, such as:
(i) Financial assistance to teachers of the universities and colleges to enable them to undertake research or learned work; a grant of Rs. 3.28 lakh was paid on this account to the universities and colleges;
(ii) Assistance to the universities and colleges to enable them to avail themselves of the services of selected teachers who have attained the normal age of superannuation, but are otherwise fit to continue teaching and research; a grant of Rs. 10.81 lakh was paid to the universities and colleges for the new teachers as well as those employed previously;
(iii) Assistance on revised pay scales of teachers agreed to by the Commission in the third Plan;
(iv) Assistance to universities and colleges for the construction of staff quarters; during April-December 1967 grants amounting to Rs. 9.17 lakh were sanctioned;
(v) Assistance to the universities and colleges for the cons- truction of teachers hostels; payments on this account to the universities during that period under review amounted to Rs. 11.93 lakh;
(vi) Assistance to the universities for a number of programmes such as exchange of teachers, extension lectures, travel grants for attending international conferences and visiting centres of research in India, etc.;
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(vii) Exchange of educationists, teachers and scholars under Cultural Exchange Programmes; during the, period April-December, 1967, 10 foreign visitors (two from Hungary, one each from. Romania and German, Democratic Republic and six from the USSR) came to India and 16 Indian teachers/scientists went abroad (two to Yugoslavia and twelve to the USSR and one each to Hungary and the, German Democratic Republic); and
(viii) The programme of exchange of visits by young scientists between India and the UK sponsored in collaboration with the British Council was continued and expanded; six British scientists visited India and an equal number of Indian scientists, went to the United Kingdom.
36. Students' Welfare: Several schemes relating to students welfare have already been approved by the Commission and assistance is being given to the universities and colleges, within the framework of the resources available, for the provision of special amenities for the student community. The schemes covered are textbook libraries, non-resident student centres, construction of students hostels, and student aid funds. The total grants paid to the universities for these schemes during 1st April to 1st December, 1967 amounted to Rs. 23.34 lakh.
37. Scholarships and Fellowships: The Commission awarded the following scholarships :
(1) Twenty-two senior fellowships, each of the value of Rs. 500 p.m. and 87 junior fellowships each of the value of Rs. 300 p.m. for advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences.
(2) Twenty-seven senior and 126 junior fellowships in science subjects.
(3) Twenty-eight research fellowships, each of the value of Rs. 40 p.m. for advanced study and research in engineering and technology.
(4) Sixteen scholarships, each of the value of Rs. 100 p.m. for honours and postgraduate, studies in Arabic and Persian.
(5) Two research scholarships each of the value of Rs. 250 p. m. and 28 postgraduate scholarships each of the value of Rs. 120 p.m. to students of the hill areas of North East India.
37. (a) The Commission allocated 321 research scholarships, each of the value of Rs. 250 p.m. to 60 universities.
38. Correspondence Courses: The Delhi 'University started the correspondence courses, for B.A. (Pass) in September, 1962 as a pilot project. On the recommendations of the Delhi Uni-
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versity, the Commission agreed that the Directorate of Correspodence Courses in the University be placed on a permanent footing. The proposals of some other universities for introducing correspondence courses are under consideration of the Commission.
39. Examination Reform: The report on examination reform programme by an expert committee appointed by the Commission was earlier circulated to the universities. Steps taken by the universities to achieve uniformity and objectivity in evaluation and their specific comments on the admission procedure, teaching methods, internal assessment, classification of successful candidates, etc., were ascertained. The information received is under examination.
40. The Vice-Chancellors of the Central Universities at their meeting in December, 1966 recommended that a committee be appointed for reviewing the examination system in Central Universities and for suggesting necessary changes. The report of the committee is being finalised.
41. Community Development and Panchayati Raj: A sum of Rs. 5 lakh has been provided by the Department of Community Development against an equal amount to be contributed by the Commission for prom- oting programmes of teaching and research in Community Development, Cooperation and Panchayati Raj, in the universities.
42. Publication Grants: The Commission allocates funds for the Plan period to the universities for undertaking publications of research works including doctoral theses. A grant of Rs. 11.35 lakh has been. allocated to the universities and institutions 'deemed to be universities' for this purpose.
D. RURAL HIGHER EDUCATION 43. The scheme of Rural Higher Education was launched in 1956 with the object of providing higher education, after the secondary stage, to the rural youth in a rural environment and inculcating in them a spirit of service to the community and sympathy for the rural way of life, besides training them for carers in the rural development programmes of the Central and State Governments. Fourteen Rural Institutes are at present functioning in various parts of the country. Twelve of them are affiliated to the National Council Rural Higher Education and are offering one or more courses approved by the Council. The other two, namely, Jamia Rural Institute, New Delhi, and Vidya Bhawan Rural Institute, Udaipur are affiliated to Jamia Millia Islamia and Udaipur University respectively.