HIGHER EDUCATION
In the field of higher education, the Union Ministry is responsible for the maintenance of the Central universities-Aligarh, Banaras, Delhi and Visva-Bharati. It is also responsible for the co- ordination and maintenance of standards in higher education and it is for this purpose that the University Grants Commission was constituted in 1953. In addition to these constitutional obligations, the Union Government give ad-hoc grants-in-aid to voluntary educational organisations for development purposes and operate some programmes of international cooperation for the development of certain aspects of higher education in India.
1.1. 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. U.G.C. to six of the nine institutions 'deemed' to be universities under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 for maintenance and development. Of the remaining 3 'deemed' univer- sities, the Jamia Millia Islamia receives maintenance grants from the Ministry of Education on a cover-the-deficit basis and development grants from the University Grants Commission. The other two institutions viz. the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, at present receive grants from the concerned Ministries. Grants to other non- statutory and non-affiliated institutions of Higher Education of all India importance are also given by the Ministry of Education on an ad- hoc basis. The Ministry of Education continued its assistance on these lines, with the two-fold object of enabling universities and other institutions of higher education to meet the challenge of unprecedented expansion on the one hand, and of the urgent need to Improve the quality of education on the other. A brief account of the projects and activities undertaken during the year 1965-66 to meet this challenge is given here.
A. CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES 2. Some of the significant developments in the four Central universities Aligarh, Banaras, Delhi and Visva-Bharati in the matters of expansion and improvement of quality of education are briefly indicated here.
3. Aligarh Muslim University 3.1. Promulgation of Ordinance to Amend the Aligarh Muslim University Act.-Consequent upon the disturbances that took place in the University Campus on 25th April, 1965, the President of India promulgated the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Ordinance on 20th May, 1965 thereby
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introducing major changes in the administrative set-up of the University. The Ordinance was replaced by the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 1965 in September, 1965. Long-term legislation to amend the University Act and Statutes is under consideration.
3.2. Academic Reforms and New Courses.-It is proposed to bifurcate the Faculty of Arts into the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
3.3. Courses in Indian Humanities have been expanded to include specialisation in History and Philosophy besides Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian and the creation of a separate Department of Linguistics has been sanctioned.
3.4. The Archaeological Excavations conducted by the Department of History at Atranji Khera have continued, and received international recognition during the year. The University Grants Commission have also sanctioned additional staff and equipment for developing field work in Archaeology.
3.5. The Department of Physics has continued to re-model its syllabi including laboratory work and a project type of laboratory work has been introduced in the post-graduate class.
3.6. The Special Sub-committee for Nematode Parasites of Cotton has established a centre for study of Nematode Parasites in the Botany Department. A project on Entomology costing Rs. 1,76,884 has been finalised with the help of experts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in India.
3.7. Other important developments in the university relate to : (i) the selection of the Department of Geology for research in Himalayan Geology (ii) introduction of a diploma course in advanced mathematics and (iii) a new scheme of "Composite Drug Research".
4. Banaras Hindu University 4.1. Amending Bill.-The Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Bill was considered by the Joint Committee set up by the Parliament and passed by the Rajya Sabha in November, 1965.
4.2. New Departments.-During 1965-66 in the Faculty of Medical Sciences five new Departments of Microbiology, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Forensic Medicine and Paediatrics were created. In the Faculty of Music & Fine Arts during the same year six new Departments of Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Musicology, Painting, Plastic Art, and Applied Arts were created. In addition to the above Departments, a separate Faculty of Commerce has also been established.
4.3. Future Programmes.-Proposals for development of Campus, con- solidation of the existing facilities in the various departments and of the Colleges of the University, introduction of many new courses, improvement of cadre and number of students in various colleges, construction of hostels and residential accommodation for teachers and other members of the staff of the University have been formulated and included in the University's programme for the fourth Five Year Plan.
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5. University of Delhi 5.1. Increase in the Number of Students in the University.-From about 30,000 in 1964 the number of students in the University has gone up to well over 33,000 in 1965-66. This means a rate of growth between 8 and 10 per cent. The number of post-graduate students is a little above 5,000 and the percentage of women students is about 40. The number of students on the rolls for Ph.D. shows a steady increase from 679 in 1963 to 809 this year, 27 per cent of the latter number being women. The number of Ph.D. Degrees awarded this year was 50 as against 33 last year.
5.2. New Colleges, Departments and Courses.-Two new colleges were started during the year : (1) Government College for Women, Timarpur; and Government College, Moti Bagh (Evening Classes). A new Department of Chinese Studies was established in the University during the same period and started functioning at Timarpur. The new courses instituted include : (a) Certificate Course in Officer Supervision for Women; (b) Diploma Courses in Modem Arabic, Swahili and Spanish; (c) Evening Classes for M.Ed.; (d) Correspondence Course for B.Ed.; (e) B.E. Tech. Course in the Faculty of Tech. (Electrical, Mechanical and Civil); and (f) Certificate in Punjabi.
5.3. Research and Other Projects.-In the Department of Zoology an important research project entitled 'Physiology of Reproduction' having a valuable bearing on population control, is in progress with the assistance of the Ford Foundation.
5.3.1 The Department of Hindi runs a Directorate of Translation which has been entrusted with the responsibility of translating the standard works in zoology, mathematics and political science. Two volumes have already been brought out, other 5 are almost ready for printing and still 6 in the process of translation.
6. Visva-Bharati 6.1. New Courses of Studies and Publications.-As a progressive step towards the development of a Department of Science, B.Sc. Honours Courses in Botany and Zoology have been started during the year.
6.1.1. The Department of Philosophy and Religion has brought out two issues of its newly started 'Journal of Philosophy'. The first issue of the Rabindra-Jijnasa' (Tagore Survey) has been published under the auspices of the Rabindra-Bhavana (Institute of Tagore Studies and Research). The recently defunct Hindi journal 'Visva- Bharati' has been revived with financial assistance received from the Bissessurlal Halwasiya Trust.
6.2. New Buildings.-The major construction works completed during the year included : (i) Hostel for Vidya-Bhavana (College of Post- graduate Studies and Research); (ii) 'Nandan' housing the Kala- Bhavana (College of Fine Arts and Crafts) and Museum etc.; (iii) A spacious stage with modern equipments and a commodious auditorium; (v) Extension of
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'Vichitra' (vi) Annexe to Sree-Sadana (Girls' Hostel); and (vii) Extension. of hostels at Santiniketan and Sriniketan.
6.3. Future Programme.-The University proposes to start degree courses in : (i) Music and Dance and (ii) Fine Art and Crafts from the 1966-67 academic year.
6.3.1. The major constructions proposed to be taken up during 1966-67 include : (i) Library Building and (ii) Boy's Dormitory (Sishu Vibhaga).
7. Jawaharlal Nehru University 7.1. A provision of Rs. 70 lakh was made in the current financial year for initial expenditure on the establishment of the proposed Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
7.2. The provision is being utilised for acquisition of about 600 acres of land in the South of Delhi where the new University is proposed to be located. The Bill for the, incorporation of the University has since been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
8. Central University for the Hill Areas of the North-Eastern Region of India.-The Committee set up jointly by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission to consider the question of setting up a University for the North-Eastern Region of India recommended the establishment of a Central University in Shillong to meet the requirements of higher education of the people of hill areas of Assam, Nagaland, NEFA and Manipur. The recommendation has been accepted by the Ministries of Education, External Affairs and Home Affairs, the Planning Commission and the University Grants Commission. The State legislature of Assam has already passed the requisite resolution.
8.1. A provision of Rs. 1 crore has been made in the budget estimates for 1966-67 for Jawaharlal Nehru University as well as the proposed Central University for the North-Eastern Region of India.
B. INSTITUTIONS DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITIES 9. During the year under report no institution was declared as "deemed" to be a university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act. The Ministry of Education has so far declared nine institutions of all-India importance, as 'deemed' to be universities within the meaning of Section 3 of the U.G.C. Act of 1956. The institutions declared as such so far are : (1) Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; (2) Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad; (3) Gurukul Kangri, Hardwar; (4) Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi; (5) Indian School of International Studies, New Delhi; (6) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; (7) Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; (8) Birla Institute of Science and Technology, Pilani; and (9) Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay.
9.1. Jamia Millia.-During the year 1965-66 the Jamia Millia continued to receive grants from the Ministry of Education on cover- the-deficit basis. A
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sum of Rs. 12 lakh towards maintenance grants and Rs. 50,000 towards matching grants for development schemes have been provided during 1965-66. The institution provides education from the nursery stage to the graduate level and in addition maintains a teachers' college and a rural institute.
9.2. Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad, Gurukul Kangri, Hardwar and Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi were paid maintenance grants as well as development grants for the activities for which the institutions have been 'deemed' to be universities by the University Grants Commission, during the year under report. It has, however, been decided that in future maintenance grants to these institutions will be paid by the Ministry of Education and development grants by the University Grants Commission, as before.
C. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION 10. As in the past the Commission continued to provide assistance to universities and colleges for their development programmes, for improving the quality and standard of teaching, for purchase of books and equipment, expansion of library facilities, construction of hostels and staff quarters etc., in pursuance of its responsibility for the promotion and coordination of standards of teaching, examination and research. The Commission has had to meet the twin problems of quality and quantity in view of the increase in the student population in universities and colleges.
11. New Universities.-During the year under report the University of Dibrugarh in Assam came into existence. The Commission also agreed to the proposal of the State Government of Gujarat for the setting up of two new universities at Surat and Bhavnagar in view of certain special circumstances and the fact that the proposal for the two new universities had been included in the third Plan of the State accepted by the Government of India.
12. Development of Humanities and Science Subjects.-During the current year it is expected that the grants amounting to Rs. 1.30 crore will be released to the universities for the development of departments of Humanities (including Social Science). For the development of departments in Science, the grants released to the universities are of the order of Rs. 1.42 crore. These grants are released for the purchase of equipment, library books, buildings and appointment of staff.
13. Centres of Advanced Study.-The scheme of the establishment of centres of advanced study in the universities continued to make steady progress during the year under report. Grants amounting to Rs. 42.09 lakh were sanctioned to the Centres of Advanced Study-17.17 lakh for centres in science subjects and Rs. 24.92 lakh for centres in humanities.
13.1. During the year, of the 16 eminent Soviet experts in different fields, of specialization invited to visit India, 9 experts have arrived so far. During this period 24 fellowships in addition to the two allocated against the savings
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from 1963-64 fellowship programme have been allocated to different centres/departments in the universities. 31 recommendations have been seat to Unesco. A sum of $20,500 non-convertible currency has been allocated to different centres for the purchase of special scientific equipment.
14. hostels.-The Commission has approved during 1965-66 the construction of 14 hostels for men/women students which would provide accommodation for 1,257 men and 419 women. The estimated cost of the hostels is Rs. 82.73 lakh, the Commission' share being Rs. 71.72 lakh. So far funds to the extent of Rs. 54 lakh have been released.
15. Teachers' Hostels.-During the year the Commission has approved the proposals of seven universities for construction of nine blocks consisting of about 140 flats. The Commission's assistance for these blocks is limited to Rs. 24 lakh. So far the Commission has released Rs. 28.58 lakh during 1965-66 for the teachers' hostels approved in the third Plan.
16. Staff Quarters, Guest Houses, Health Centres and Students Houses.Proposals from two universities for construction of staff quarters estimated at Rs. 4.25 lakh were approved during the year, the Commission's share being limited to Rs. 3.60 lakh. Rs. 40.14 lakh have been released to the universities for construction of quarters approved in the third Plan. Grants amounting to Rs. 3.00 lakh and Rs. 2.00 lakh were paid to 14 and 11 universities respectively for the construction of Guest Houses and establishment of Health Centres. The Commission also approved the establishment of Students' Houses in 7 universities and grants amounting to Rs. 2.75 lakh were paid to 5 universities for the purpose.
17. Development of Post-graduate Education in Affiliated Colleges.During the year 15 additional postgraduate departments in science in 8 colleges were assisted under this programme and grants totalling 9.39 lakh were sanctioned. Similarly 4 colleges were selected for the development of postgraduate departments in Humanities during 1965-66 and grants amounting to Rs. 8.00 lakh are expected to be released to these colleges.
18. Three-year Degree Course.-Except the University of Bombay and the State universities in U.P. all other universities which are providing undergraduate courses in Arts, Science and Commerce have adopted the three year degree course pattern. Up to December 1965 the Commission had approved an expenditure of Rs. 23.65 crore for the implementation of the three-year degree course scheme in 41 universities and 733 colleges. The Commission's share of this expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 12.02 crore (Rs. 6.65 crore non- recurring and Rs. 5.37 crore recurring). Non-recurring grants amounting to Rs. 5.58 crore and recurring grants amounting to Rs. 2.10 crore were disbursed up to 31 December, 1965 for the implementation of the scheme in the universities and colleges concerned.
19. Financial Assistance for Affiliated Colleges.-The following grants were approved for affiliated colleges for different purposes in 1965-66:
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(a) Rs. 22.99 lakh to 24 affiliated colleges for construction of men's hostels, (b) Rs. 9.56 lakh to 8 colleges for the construction of women's hostels, (c) Rs. 12.87 lakh to 30 colleges for the expansion of library facilities, (d) Rs. 21.33 lakh to 33 colleges for the expansion of laboratory facilities, (e) Rs. 7.94 lakh to 14 colleges for the construction of staff quarters, (f) Rs. 3.83 lakh to 12 colleges for the establishment of non-resident students' centres, and (g) Rs. 18.15 lakh for text-book libraries given to 177 more colleges.
20. Scholarships and Fellowships.-Under the scheme of Research Scholarships in Humanities/Sciences the following scholarships and fellowships have been awarded during the current financial year :
Scheme Awards Grants
made paid
Research Fellowships in Science Rs.
Senior 27 9,94,819.42
Junior 97
Research Fellowships in Humanities
Senior 21 7,34,911.39
Junior 68
Research Fellowships in Engineering and Technology 32 3,11,333.37
Scholarships for Hons. & Post-graduate Studies in Arabic &
Persian 20 12,094.12