CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY
1.Scope and Functions The Government of India have sole executive responsibility for the subjects included in the Union List. In respect of co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions of higher education, the responsibility of the Ministry is carried out through the University Grants Commission. The direct responsibility for the development of education in the rest of the country is with the State Governments and, therefore, most of the programmes of educational development are included in the State sector of the Plan. As a federal agency the Ministry is responsible for general coordination, collection and supply of educational information for the country as a whole and for programmes of international collaboration in education.
2. Organisation The organisation of the Ministry is given in the chart on the opposite page.
A comprehensive study involving simplification of methods and procedures, work measurement and organisation analysis, in the Ministry, was completed during the year. As a result of the study, and in view of the emergent need for economy, it was decided to reduce establishment which would result in a saving of Rs. 3.25 lakh per annum. This reduction represents 14.5 per cent of the expenditure on salaries and allowances of staff during the year under review.
3. National Emergency The Ministry remained in constant touch with the State Governments and endeavoured to give them guide-lines as to the way in which State programmes should be oriented to meet the defence needs of the country. The important measures taken in this connection are mentioned in the various chapters of this Report. Marginal curtail- ment of expenditure on certain Schemes was effected for reasons of economy and to divert funds to sectors where expansion was necessary.
4. Advisory Bodies The Ministry has appointed different advisory bodies to assist it in the discharge of its functions. A list of such bodies, functioning at the close of the year under review, is given in Annexure I.