CHAPTER II HIGHER EDUCATION & RESEARCH
The principal institutions and programmes of the Government of India in the field of Higher Education and Research are :
(1) The University Grants Commission,
(2) The Central Universities, namely, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Banaras Hindu University, the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati and the North-Eastern Hills University.
(3) Revision of salary scales of University and College teachers, grants/loans for construction of hostels, Rural Institutes, grants to institutes of higher learning of All India importance and Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial Programmes.
(4) The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and Cultural Exchange Programmes; and
(5) The Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla, the Indian Council of Social Science Research, the Indian Council of Historical Research and the Indian Council of Philosophy.
Brief accounts of these institutions and programmes are given in the paragraphs that follow.
University Grants Commission The University Grants Commission continued to provide assistance to Universities and Colleges for approved development programmes in the area of Higher Education. The number of Universities including Institutions deemed to be universities under section 3 of the U.G.C. Act rose from 45 in 1960 to 101 in 1973. The number of Colleges increased from 1,542 in 1960-61 to 4,158 in 1972-73. The total students enrolment increased from 1.03 million in 1960-61 to 3.86 million (estimated in 1973-74. The post-graduate level students enrolment rose from 59.000 in 1960-61 to 2,33,277 (estimated) in 1973- 74.
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Some of the important steps taken by the Commission for the development of higher education include special assistance to centres of Advanced studies, assistance for improvement of the quality of postgraduate teching and research, improvement of College education through College Sciences improvement programmes, organisation of Summer Institutes, re-orientation of university courses in order to relate them to the needs of the communities, seminars-and Orientation courses to teachers, travel grants to teachers, special assistance to teacher education and research, progamme of areas studies, programmes of student services and welfare, revision of scales of pay of teachers in Universities and Colleges, introduction of special cells for pro- grammes for Examination reform, introduction of work experience as part of college education,, facilities for research, annual awards to outstanding scientists, etc.
As the Annual Report of the University Grants Commission is separately placed before Parliament and discussed, no detailed account of its programmes and activities has been given here.
In the draft Fifth Five Year Plan, an allocation of Rs. 210/- crores has been made to the University Grants Commission. As this is inadequate, efforts are being made to find additional funds.
Institutions Deemed as Universities In addition to Universities, there are five institutions deemed to be Universities namely, (i) Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, (ii) Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar, (iii) Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, (iv) Kashi Vidyapith,* Varanasi and (v) Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay. These institutions received their development grants from the University Grants Commission. Their maintenance grants on cover-the-deficit basis and their matching share on development grants is paid by the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare
CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES
ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY
Legislation On the recommendation of the Executive Council the President of India in his capacity as the Visitor of the University approved certain amendments in the States of the University. Some of these amendments related to changes in the constitution
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and powers of various authorities of the University. In accordance with the revised Statutes, some of the authorities have already been constituted and steps to constitute the others have already been taken. Elections from the constituency of teachers to the Academic Council, Executive Council and the Court have been held. Steps to elect representatives from other constituencies to the Court have also been taken. Dr. Abdul Aleem, Vice-Chancellor relinquished charge of his office on January 3, 1974.
Curricula and Examination Reform In order to stabilise the working of the semester system the University, had introduced certain reforms. It is hoped that with the introduction of these reforms, the University will be able to streamline the academic programmes of the University under the semester system. During the last academic session the University introduced certain job oriented inter-disciplinary courses. These courses provide ready employment to students and fulfil the need of technical and skilled personnel required by various organisations. The University Grants Commission also approved the University's proposal for starting of. professional courses and approved necessary grant for it. Certain new courses have been added to these new diploma courses. In the Faculty of Science the University has introduced a course in Computer Science.
To save time for instructional purposes by reducing the period normally used as examinations days, a slightly modified pattern of examination and internal assessment has been introduced in the University. The proposed reform of the examination system is almost on the lines approved by the University Grants Commission on the recommendation of the Committee appointed by the Union Ministry to formulate a plan of action for examination reforms. One hour examinations in the class room conducted by the teachers teaching the subjects (one at the middle of the semester and one at the end of the semester) have been introduced. Most of the first final examinations of the first semester are now over. According to the present schedule the current session will be over by the middle of June 1974. It is hoped that, by that time, the instruction and examinations of the current session will be completed and the results can be declared by July 1974.
Research A number of research schemes were Undertaken by the University during this period. Considerable publication work was
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done, the staff members producing books in various subjects. The Department of History, since its recognition as a Centre of Advanced Study, continued to do pioneering work in the field of medieval Indian history. The Centre also issued a few important publications.
Buildings The National Building Construction Corporation, a Government owned organisation, has taken up building projects which cover staff quarters for the medical college, for the business management block, a library for women's college hostel for 100 women students, amenities block for the Faculty of Arts and the engineering college, etc.
Other Activities A few members of the staff of the University and its affiliated colleges attended conferences and seminars in and outside India.
The different clubs under the Games and Cultural Committees remained active during the period under review. The students also took part in games, sports and cultural activities organised by the Inter-University, Board, State Government etc. Three of the University's cricket players were selected for U.P. Team for Ranji Trophy. The University won the All India Varsity Tennis Championship held at Nagpur.
Finance Out of the grant sanctioned by the University Grants Commission for the development scheme of the University over Rs. 130.00 lakhs have already been utilised. Steps to utilise the balance amount during the remaining part of the plan period have been taken.
The budget estimates for the current year showed an expenditure of Rs. 3.5 crores against an anticipated income of Rs. 3.3 crores. The receipt includes maintenance grant of Rs. 2.25 crores and other grants of Rs. 21.16 lakhs from the University Grants Commission besides State Government grant of Rs. 3.3 lakhs, for schools.
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
Conferences, Seminars, etc. During the year under review, as may as 105 teachers of the University were deputed to participate in various Symposia/ Seminars and Conferences in India. Besides, about 20 teachers
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of the University were deputed to attend various conferences and seminars held in foreign countries in the field of Science, Agriculture, Medical Sciences and Technology. Dr. K. L. Shrimati, Vice Chancellor of this University and Prof. G. B. Singh, Head, Department of Chemistry, attended the quinquennial conference of the Association of Commonwealth Universities at Edinburgh (U.K.)
The University was the venue of a number of seminars, symposia and conferences. In these seminars and conferences, scholars, not only from India, but also from many foreign countries participated.
Many of the faculty members of the university received awards and fellowships, during the year. Prof. R. S. Misra, Dean, Faculty of Science was elected as President of the Indian Science Congress.
Appointments The University upgraded about 35 lecturers to the posts of Readers and 14 Readers to the posts of Professors under the Presonal Promotion Scheme sanctioned by the University Grants Commission and a few more will be added to this list before the current financial year is over. The strength of the Faculty in the University has also been increased by making a number of regular appointments against the posts of Lecturers, Readers and Professors. This University has also been selected for the institution of Guru Nanak Chair of Sikh Studies. The University is a centre of Advanced Studies in Philosophy and is reputed for its studies in the field of Indian Philosophy and Religion. The establishment of this new chair will further increase the dimension of studies in the field of Indian Religion.
Research Contribution Research in any institution of higher learning is a continuous process. While the Science Departments have been mostly engaged in research Projects of a fundamental nature, some important discoveries have been made by the Faculties of Agriculture and Technology. The most notable amongst these is the release of two wheat varieties namely, Hindu University Wheat-1 (H.U.W.-1) and H.U.W.-2 which are high yielding and disease resistant. Another wheat variety (H.U.W.-3) is also a commercial variety and takes 100 days from seeding to har- vesting. This variety has given consistently high yields under
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rainted conditions and is ideally suited for multiple cropping. Dr. Prabhu Nath, Reader in the Department of Ceramic Engineering has made notable research in the field of glass. He has also been associated with some very important defence research projects.
Administration-Staff Welfare Some of the important steps taken in this direction are
(1) Those employees who have rendered two years con- tinuous temporary service till 31-12-73 have been absorbed permanently in the service of the University.
(2) The pay scales of the technical staff have been revised.
(3) 80 posts of Junior Clerks and 28 posts of Senior Clerks have been upgraded,
Scholarships and Fellowships Apart from the renewal of a large number of research scholarships and fellowships, nearly 200 Research scholarships and fellowships of the value of Rs. 250/- P.M. and Rs. 300/P.M. are being awarded to research scholars from the Block grant and assistance received from the U.C.C. Besides these, many Government Scholarships and Research Fellowships have been sanctioned to students of this University during the year.
Central Instrumentation Laboratory : The University Grants Commission has accepted in principle the decision of the University to set up a Central Instrumentation and Service Laboratory as a collaborative effort between the Institute of Technology, Institute of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Science. Under this Scheme, the University proposes to import a Mars Spectrometer unit and a computor attachment at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.00 lakhs. One computer has already been installed in the Institute of Technology. Besides, other costly equipments will also be pooled in order to avoid duplication and to make the best use of scarce resources.
Review Committee The Committee set up to review the working of the University has now completed its tasks.
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Development This being the last year of the Fourth Plan, all round efforts are being made to achieve the developmental targets. The University has already utilised over 90% of its Plan outlays for various developmental activities. It is expected that by the end of the financial year more funds would be released and that the spill-over to the Fifth Plan would be nominal.
Finances The following figures show the estimated financial position of University during the year 1973-74 :-
Receipt Expenditure
Rs. Rs.
(in lakhs) (in lakhs)
1. Non-Plan 460.02 486.97
2. Development 226.97 226.97
3. Earmarked 62.33 61.96
4. Deptt., Deposit etc. 319.79 312.66
TOTAL 1059.11 1088.56
University of Delhi The total number of students on the rolls of the University in the various courses was 1,24,530. Out of this, 75,457 were regular full-time students, 14,255 students were in with the School of Correspondence Courses, 4794 were on the rolls of the Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board and the rest (30,024) were private.
The total number of students enrolled for Ph.D. degree is 1,822. The Faculty of Medical Sciences has 2,484 students on its rolls for the various undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees and diplomas. 1219 students are enrolled with the Faculty of Technology. The University has 19,875 students for the various Honours Courses in Arts, Science and Social Sciences. Out of this 3,461 are studying for the Honours Courses in Science.
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New Colleges Courses and Departments The following Colleges were started/affiliated by the University, during the period
1. Bhagat Singh (Evening) College, Kalkaji, New Delhi,
2. Ramlal Anand (Evening) College, Anand Niketan Marg, New Delhi.
3. S.G.T.B. Khalsa (Evening) College, Dev Nagar, New Delhi.
4. Satyawati Co-educational (Evening) Collee, Timar- pur, Delhi.
5. Hamdard College of Pharmacy, Tuglaqabad, New Delhi-62.
6. Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, New Delhi.
Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa (Evening) College has been started in the same building where the Day College was running. The Day College has shifted to its new building at the University Campus.
Ram Lal Anand College has been taken over by the University and will be run as a maintained college.
The following New Courses have been introduced
(a) M.A. in Business Economics
(b) Diploma in Public Health
(c) D.M. (Cardiology)
(d) D.M. (Neurology)
The following new Departments have been created
(a) Department of Fine Arts
(b) Department of Computer Science
(c) Department of Ayurvedic Medicine
(d) Department of Unani Medicine
(e) Department of Mathematics
(f) Department of Mathematical Statistics
(g) Department of operational Research
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Centres of Advanced Studies At present there are six Centres of Advanced Studies in the University in the following Departments :
1. Society Centre of Advanced Study in Society.
2. Economics Centre of Advanced Study in Ecomic
Development and Economic History
3. Physics & Astro-Physics Centre of Advanced Study in Physics
and Astro-Physics
4. Chemistry Centre of Advanced Study in Chemi
stry and Natural Products
5. Botany Centre of Advanced Study in Plant
Morphology and Embryology
6. Zoology Centre of Advanced Study in Cell
Biology and Endriology