 CHAPTER III
HIGHER EDUCATION

3.01. In higher education, the Union Ministry of Education is mainly concerned with (1) the four Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras, Delhi and Visva-Bharati; (2) institutions deemed to be universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act; (3) coordination and maintenance of standards of higher education through the University Grants Commission (UGC; (4) Rural institutes; and (5) a few other miscellaneous programmes of higher education. The major developments in these areas have been briefly described in this chapter.

A. CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES

3.02. Aligarh Muslim University:

The total number of students in the University during the year under report was 7,352.

The Faculty of Arts was bifurcated into two faculties, namely, (a) Faculty of Arts, and (b) Faculty of Social Sciences.

A Centre for West Asian Studies was set up and the Department of History was raised to the status of a Centre for Advanced Studies.

The Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies was bifurcated into the Department of Arabic Studies and the Department of Islamic Studies.

3.03. Banaras Hindu University:

Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi assumed charge of the office of the Rector under statute

3(1) of the Banaras Hindu University Act with effect from 2nd March, 1968.

The University has made progress in providing instruction through the medium of Hindi from the undergraduate classes to the highest level. Compulsory study of English has been abolished from the PUC (both in arts and science faculties) B.A., B. Ss., B. Com., B. Sc., (Ag.), B. Pharm., and I and II years of the integrated courses in technology.

Proposals for seven additional departments, namely, Anaes- thesiology, Plant Physiology, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Mycology and Plant Pathology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agronomy and Agricultural Economics are under consideration of the Visitor.

Under section 5(2) of the Banaras Hindu University Act, the Visitor has directed that an inquiry in respect of the recent state of unrest and agitation in the Banaras Hindu University should be made by a committee consisting of the following:

        (i)  Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar, Vice-Chancellor,
        Bombay University                                      Chairman
        
        (ii) Mr.  Justice V. S. Desai, judge, Bombay High
        Court                                                  Member
        
        (iii) Prof.  S. K. Bose, Chairman, Inter-University
        Board of India                                         Member
        
        (iv) Prof.  R. C. Mehrotra, Vice-Chancellor,
        University of Rajasthan                                Member

The terms of reference of the Committee are as under:

"To inquire into the recent state of unrest and agitation in the University and to make such recommenda-

tions as may be considered necessary or expedient for remedying the situation and for improving the general tone of discipline and law and order in the University".

The Committee held its first meeting on January 12, 1969 and is expected to complete its work in June, 1969.

3.04. University of Delhi:

In August 1968, the University had 48,968 regular students on its rolls in addition to 11,097 registered with the School of Correspondence Courses. There were 1,960 non-collegiate women students on the rolls of NonCollegiate Women's Education Board, 149 in B. Ed. Correspondence Course in the Central Institute of Education making up a total of 62,174. Of these, women students constitute 38.2 per cent.

The University permitted Convent of Jesus and Mary College to function as a full-fledged constituent college with B.A. (Pass) and B.A. (Hons.) in English from July, 1968.

The Department of Sociology in the University was recognised by the University Grants Commission as a Centre of Advanced Studies and allocation of Rs. 2,75,000 (nonrecurring) and Rs. 1,30,000 (recurring) was made for this purpose to the University.

Through the courtesy of the Government of Japan the University is proposing to start a diploma course in Japanese language from the next academic session. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries has also agreed to donate a chair in Japanese history and culture. The University is likely to start shortly the certificate course in Polish language with the assistance from the Government of Poland. One lecturer in Polish language has already arrived from Poland.

The University received the approval of the University Grants Commission for the introduction of one-year certificate

course in forensic science in the Department of Anthropology.

An amount of 1.5 million dollars representing part of the Ford Foundation grant of $ 5.00 million approved for the projects of development is at present being utilised by the University for importing scientific equipment for the science department of the University in a phased manner.

3.05. Visva-Bharati:

M.Sc., courses in physics, chemistry, botany and zoology were introduced from the 1968-69 academic session. The existing degree courses in agriculture and social work were also upgraded to honours level during the period. Similarly the honours course in geography was introduced from July, 1968.

An all-India seminar on "Being and Non-Being" was organised on April 5 and 6, 1968 under the auspices of the Centre of Advanced Studies in Philosophy at the University. Besides teachers of the University, 21 delegates from other universities attended the seminar and participated in its deliberations.

Among the new buildings completed during the period, a reference may be made to the following major works:

(i) "Sishu-Vibhaga" (hostel for Patha-Bhavana boys.) and warden's quarters attached to it.

(ii) Dining hall for Patha-Bhavana boys' dormitory.

3.06. Jawaharlal Nehru University:

The site for the location of the University has been acquired. Steps are being taken to appoint a vice-chancellor and to set up the Advisory Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

B. INSTITUTIONS DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITIES

3.07. The Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi;

Gurukul Kangri Vishwa-Vidyalaya, Hardwar; Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad; Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi and the Indian School of International Studies, New Delhi receive maintenance grants on cover-

the-deficit basis on admissible items of expenditure and matching share on development schemes approved by the University Grants Commission and accepted by Government for such grants.

3.08. The 'cover-the-deficit' pattern of assistance followed with regard to deemed universities has since been approved in the case of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay.

3.09. The Estimates Committee of the Lok Sabha finalised its report on the Indian School of International Studies. The recommendations of the Committee are under consideration.

C. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

3.10. There are 74 universities and 10 institutions deemed to be universities under section 3 of the UGC Act. The number of colleges stands at 2,899 and the total student enrolment in the universities and colleges at 19,18,972*. During the last three years enrolment has been rising at an average rate of about 13.2 per cent per annum. The number of teachers in universities and colleges was 1,02,454 in 1967- 68.

3.11. New Universities and Centres of Postgraduate Studies:

The Commission has emphasized that no new university should be established without prior consultation with the UGC.

The Commission has accepted the proposals of the Universities of Andhra, Mysore, Osmania, Punjab and Sri Venkateswara for setting up Centres of Postgraduate Studies under their auspices at Guntur, Mangalore, Warrangal, Simla and Anantpur respectively.

3.12. Grants to Universities:

The Fourth Plan development proposals (excluding those relating to engineering and technology) of 61 universities and 8 institutions deemed to be universities have been examined and assessed by the visiting committees appointed by, the Commission. In the light of the re-

* Excluding the enrolment in intermediate classes affiliated to the Board of the High School and Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh.

commendations of the visiting committees, as accepted by the Commission, schemes of development involving grants amounting to Rs. 46.36 crore have so far been approved for 58 universities and seven institutions deemed to be universities. The schemes provide for the development of postgraduate studies and research, library and laboratory facilities, additional staff, hostels, staff quarters, health centres, student homes and other miscellaneous projects. In view of limited funds available, the universities were requested to confine their programme in such a way as would require an outlay not exceeding 70 per cent of the total sum approved for each of them. It was also decided that, in the case of schemes involving recurring expenditure accepted after 1965-66, the Commission's assistance would be extended up to the end of the Fourth Plan period i.e. 1973-74.

3.13. The development grants paid to the universities and institutions deemed to be, universities during the period April- November, 1968 were as follows:

                                          
        
                                                               Grants
             Purpose                                           Paid
                                                               (Rupees
                                                               in Lakh)
                                          
        
             Science                                           115.70
        
             Humanities and Social Sciences                     64.15
        
             Engineering and Technology                        131.70
        
             Miscellaneous Schemes                             170.61
        
        
                  TOTAL                                        482.16

Grants are given for the following purposes, amongst others:

(i) Research and learned work by teachers.

(ii) Utilisation by the universities and colleges of the services of teachers, who have crossed the normal

age of retirements, but are otherwise fit to continue their teaching and research.

(iii) Publication of research works and doctoral thesis.

(iv) Construction of staff quarters and hostels for teachers and students. (The Commission has in addition decided to give limited financial assistance to universities for the improvement of existing hostel facilities including sanitary arrangements on a hundred per cent basis.)

(v) Construction of students' study homes.

(vi) Contribution to the students aid fund in the universities wherefrom assistance is given to needy stu- dents for paying their tuition or examination fees, purchasing books, for meeting other expenses related to their studies.

(vii) Unassigned grants for a number of miscellaneous programmes including exchange of teachers, extension lectures by university teachers, travel grants for attending conferences and visiting centres of research etc.

3.14. The maintenance grants to the central universities for 1968-69 are as indicated below:

                                          
             University                                        Rupees in Lakh
                                          
        
             Aligarh Muslim University                         183.00
        
             Banaras Hindu University                          239.32
        
             Delhi University                                  110.00
        
             Visva-Bharati                                      51.00
        
                       TOTAL                                   583.32

3.15. Centres of Advanced Study:

The Commission has been providing special assistance to 27 university departments selected on the basis of their existing facilities and potentialities for further development to function as centres of advanced study in specific fields. During the period under review the Commission agreed to recognise the departments of sociology, history and biochemistry in the Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, respectively, as centres of advanced study.

3.16. On the basis of the recommendations of the assessment committees, programmes involving grants amounting to Rs. 471 lakh have been approved by the Commission for the centres of advanced study. The approved schemes provide for improvement of the library and laboratory facilities, programmes of teaching and research, recruitment of staff, award of scholarships and fellowships, purchase of equipment, etc.

3.17. Assistance from Unesco, mainly from the USSR, for supply of equipment, services of experts and training of Indian scholars in the USSR was utilised by 10 university departments, seven of which are centres of advanced study in science subjects. The Government of the United Kingdom, through the British Council, continued to provide assistance to some centres of advanced study.

3.18. Under the Indo-USSR Agreement of Economic and Technical Cooperation, it is proposed to set up a specialised institute of earth sciences with Soviet assistance in the Department of Geophysics of the Osmania University.

3.19. Summer Institutes, Seminars and Refresher Courses:

The programme of summer institutes, seminars, refresher courses and academic conferences is intended to acquaint teachers with current developments in their respective fields of work and modem curricula and techniques of instruction, to enable them to improve their professional competence.

3.20. In collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development and the National Science Foundation, 61 summer institutes for school teachers (attended by 2,320 teachers) and 60 institutes for college teachers (attended by 2,100 teachers) were organised under the auspices of various universities during the year. The number of institutes organised, subjectwise, is indicated below:

                                          
                                                     institutes  Instiutes
        Subject                                      for School   for Col-
                                                     Teachers     lege Tea-
                                                                   chers
                                          
        
        Mathematics                                       15          18
        
        Physics                                           17          14
        
        Chemistry                                         16          14
        
        Biology                                           13          14

3.21. 10 summer institutes were devoted to English language teaching for college teachers in collaboration with the British Council. One summer science institute was convened for talented undergraduate students.

3.22. A special programme relating to participation in research by college teachers and outstanding postgraduate students was undertaken to provide opportunities, to selected teachers and postgraduate students for acquiring research training and experience.

3.23. Financial assistance was given to the universities for organising 95 summer institutes, symposia, academic conferences etc.

3.24. Development Grants to Colleges :

Within the resources available, the Commission continued to provide assistance to the colleges for the following programmes:

(a) Development of postgraduate studies in science, humanities and social sciences :

Grants for this

purpose are given for additional staff, teaching accommodation, library and laboratory facilities, etc., on a sharing basis within the prescribed ceilings.

(b) General development grants, for various purposes:

These grants up to a normal ceiling of Rs. 1.5 lakh per college are given for library and laboratory facilities (including buildings, equipment, furniture, books and journals, hostels for teachers and students, staff quarters, and non-resident student centres on a prescribed sharing basis.

(c) Centenary grants:

A centenary grant of Rs. 1 lakh, to be used for a project is given to a college which has served the cause of education for 100 years. Two colleges, namely, Maharajah's College, Ernakulam and St. Xavier's College, Bombay' were sanctioned such grants during the year.

(d) Special library grants :

Basic grants for books as well as grants for textbook libraries are being given to arts, science and commerce colleges on a hundred per cent basis subject to the prescribed ceilings.

CHAPTER III HIGHER EDUCATION