HIGHER EDUCATION & RESEARCH
The Ministry of Education is primarily concerned with the maintenance and determination of standards in higher education, a function dicharged through the University Grants Commission. Special emphasis has been laid in the programme for the consolidation and improvement of the quality of education. The Ministry has also been paying special attention to the improvement of the facilities available for students and to the enhancement of the status of teachers. The Ministry has also funded separate organisations for the promotion of social science and historical research. Provision of scholarship facilities for meritorious students in higher education has been separately dealt with in Chapter IV.
Some of the institutions of the Government of India in this field are:- (i) the University Grants Commission, (ii) the Central Universities, viz. the Aligarh Muslim University, the Banaras Hindu University, the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati, the North-Eastern Hill University and University at Hyderabad, (iii) the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, (iv) The Institute of Advanced Study, Simla and (v) the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION The University Grants Commission has been reconstituted in January, 1976 and Prof. Satish Chandra, formerly Vice-Chairman of the Commission has been appointed Chairman of the Commission with effect from the 15th January, 1976. The UGC continued to provide assistance to Universities and colleges for approved development programmes in the area of higher education. The main emphasis in the current plan is on consolidation, flexibility and social justice. For this purpose, strengthening and proper orientation of the existing Departments of Universities and making the existing colleges viable in order to raise their academic standards, regulating the growth of enrolment, informal and fulltime education particularly at the undergraduate level, are some of the important programmes. Unplanned proliferation of Universities and colleges has declined.
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There were, 101 Universities in 1974-75 and 102 as on 1-12-1975. The number of new colleges has dropped to 125 in 1973-74 and to 83 in 1974-75 as against 200 on an average per annum during the period 1969- 73. The growth rate in the University enrolement excluding PUC/Intermediate/Pre-Professional which was 14.5% in 1969-70 over 1968-69 has fallen to 3% during 1973-74. Additional facilities made available for non-formal education through private study and correspondence courses have contributed to this sharp decline in the growth rate, of enrolment. While enrolment in general is being regulated, access to higher education for the underprivileged sections of the society is among the priority programmes of the Commission. The Fifth Plan proposals of the Universities and colleges have also taken into account the need for special facilities to be provided for backward areas and special efforts are being made towards removal of regional imbalances. During the current Plan period, the Commission has adopted a liberalised pattern of assistance for the development of backward areas. Institutions located in such areas are eligible to receive assistance from it in relaxation of the minimum prescribed students enrolment and faculty strength. For construction of student hostels, assistance to institutions in backward areas will be 75% of the approved cost as against 50% for others. All institutions assisted by the Commission towards the construction of hostels for students are now required to reserve 20% of seats for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Some of the important steps taken by the Commission towards the development of higher education include special assistance to Centres of Advanced Study, development of colleges, re-structuring of courses, implementation of the 10+2+3 pattern of education, examination reforms, faculty improvement programmes through seminars and orientation courses for teachers, travel grants to teachers, special assistance to teacher education and research and programmes of area study and research, fellowships and improvement of undergraduate education. Steps have also been taken towards giving autonomy to selected colleges so that they can experiment with new educational processes and bring about necessary changes in the courses of study and techniques of teaching and evaluation.
The Commission has advised all State Governments to set up an Inter-University Coordination Board so as to make the best use of all available resources and expertise for the coordinated development of the academic programmes of the various Universities in each State. The Universities have also been asked to set up a Planning Board which would engage itself in a
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continuous review of the implementation of the various academic programmes in the University, prepare long term plans and suggest measures to involve the Universities more closely with, the problems and needs of the community.
The schemes being implemented for the development of colleges include provision for faculty improvement, practical training and field experience and also reorienting courses towards community needs. Both city colleges and colleges in rural areas will be assisted in the restructuring of their courses so as to make them relevant to rural needs.
The Commission has communicated a set of guidelines to Universities for restructuring courses of studies at the first degree level within the general principles of relevance and flexibility so, that they would be related to local needs and environment. The courses are to be reoriented in such a manner that the student can apply his theoretical knowledge to the problems of the region through field work, project work, extension etc. With the help of review committees, subject panels and regional workshops, it has initiated a process that would lead to the up-dating and modernisation of syllabii and courses and the development of the teaching-learning process related to the individual and social needs of students.
While endorsing a new pattern of education, the Commission has appointed a taskforce to work out the details of the change over and the nature of adjustments that would become necessary in the 5th plan proposals of the universities. The task-force will also consider the question of introducing pass, honours and linked courses in the Central Universities as well as the problem of organising school and pre-degree classes within the framework of the 10+2+3 pattern.
The Commission has accorded priority to the faculty improvement programme and faculty awards. Institutional faculty improvement programmes have also been integrated with college science improvement programmes and the college humanity programme.
The Commission's programme of research fellowships in humanities, social sciences and science, engineering and technology is continuing and assistance is continued to be given towards the provision of students amenities and student-welfare. The Commission has also taken steps to open regional instrumentation centres to help the Universities to repair and to bring to use
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the idle equipment and to train technicians to maintain the equipment properly. The Commission has approved financial assistance to Universities to have computer facilities so that all the Universities will have either some computer facilities of their own or would be enabled to have appropriate computer time from other institutions.
The Commission continues to give assistance towards students amenities and student welfare including the provision of hostel accommodation, setting up study centres and non-resident study centres, establishment of books banks, student-aid-fund, setting up of health centres and students' homes. Under the scheme of book banks, multiple copies of text-books are provided in college libraries and they are made available to deserving students on loan during the period of their study. Universities and colleges are also assisted towards establishing a student-aid-fund so that the poor and needy students might be helped to pay tuition fees and examination fees and meet other needs related to their study. A Working Group has also been set up by the Commission to finalise new programmes of student welfare to be taken during the current plan.
The Commission conducted regular cultural programmes with the Governments of Afghanistan, Bangla Desh, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania,, Poland, G.D.R., F.R.G., France, U.S.S.R., Iran, Yugoslavia, the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mongolia. During the year 30 foreign scholars were received and 40 Indian scholars were sent abroad under various cultural exchange programmes. These visits have provided an excellent opportunity to Indian teachers to study the latest developments in various fields abroad. Comprehensive reports received from Indian and foreign scholars have also helped to formulate effective, collaborative programmes between the Universities and institutions in India and their counterparts in foreign countries.
As the Annual Report of the University Grants Commission is separately placed before Parliament for discussion, no detailed account of its programmes and activities has been given here.
Central Universities With the promulgation of the Emergency there has been a good deal of improvement in the atmosphere of the campuses of the Central Universities. The students could devote more attention to their studies; and their attendance in the classes and laboratories has improved.
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ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY
Admission to courses The University admitted during the session under report 4,507 students including 85 foreign students. The total number of students in the various Faculties during the session 1975-76 is 11,646 which includes 1,047 students of evening classes, 824 Ph.D. students and 328 foreign students.
Games, sports and other cultural activities The students took part in many extra curricular activities in and outside the University. One of the University hockey players was taken in the I.H.F. team to play at Kabul and another in the combined Universities team. The University Skating team and the Tennis team distinguished themselves during the year. The Riding Club Captain was awarded a Sports Talent Scholarship by the Inter-University Sports Board.
Participation in conferences abroad The University teachers participated in various International Conferences, Symposia and Seminars in and outside the, country. The important among those are the 3rd International Congress of Iranian Chemical Society at Iran, the 4th Joint IAU/IUHPS Symposium on History of Astronomy on the occasion of the Tercentenary Royal Greenwich observatory symposium at London, the 1st international Symposium of Continental Margin Benthonic Forminifora at Halifix, Canada, the 27th International Symposium on Crop Protection at Gont, Belgium, Common- wealth Helminthological meeting in the U.K. and the 8th International Congress on Carboniferous Stratingraphy held at Moscow.
Several important local Conferences, Seminars and Symposia were also organised during the year under review. Special mention may be made of the 36th Annual Session of the Indian History Congress, Seminar on "Religion and Social Protest" and on Milton on the occassion of his death tercentenary celebration and a Symposium on 'Technology'.
Research activities. Certain teachers of the Department of Chemistry have signed a patents agreement with an American Pharmaceutical company for world market rights of a new drug which is considered a boon for heart patients. The Bio-chemistry Research Unit is also engaged in finding out a safe drug for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The Bio- chemistry Section of the Department of
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Chemistry has started a programme to study properties of insoluble Trysin and important pepsin digestive enzymes.
The Department of Chemistry in collaboration with Dr. Helen F.S.U, an American Scientist, has undertaken a research project under PL-480 on 'Screening of Indigenous Herbaceous Seed Oils'. The object of the project is to find out useful vegetable oils as can be obtained from the seeds of indigenous herbaceous plants, especially those growing in Rajasthan region and in the low lands of Uttar Pradesh.
Creative Teaching Unit The Creative Teaching Unit in the Department of Physics has taken up a comprehensive programme of innovative instruction at the undergraduate level. It is an experiment in experimental learning in which the students are expected to tap their talent, resources of thinking, learning and doing.
Health Centres The Rural Health Training Centre of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College has expanded its activities for providing health care for the rural population under the centre. In addition to the internees of the College, post-graduate students also work in the area in connection with their research work.
The Urban Health Centre of the Medical College has chosen a new field practice area-Zohrabagh and Jivangarh villages. About 500 families have been registered and preventive and curative services are being provided to them. The Centre has also started specialised clinics like Family Planning, Health Screening, etc.
Acquisitions The Department of Pharmacology has acquired valuable items of equipment worth,Rs. 3.5 lakhs through a donation from the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, West Germany. The Department has established a section of Psycholpharmacology and the work on "Effect of Hypoxia at different environmental temperatures on the behavioural correlates of anxiety in Tats" is in progress.
Students Committee An ad-hoc committee with a nominated President, Vice President, Secretary and Executive has been constituted in place of the students Union which was dissolved in October 1975.
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BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY The most revealing feature of the year under review is that the University, with the co-operation of its vast majority of teachers, students and the stiff fortified with the proclamation of the emergency, stood as a man against all forces of disruption and other anarchical elements, and went ahead undoing the evil effects of indiscipline and proving its worth as a great seat of learning. It was able to hold examinations smoothly and in time.
Research projects In the field of science and agriculture, seven new Research Projects were sanctioned during the year. Notable amongst them were those on the production of some Petrochemicals, RNA-Protein binding sites in ribasomes (DNA), wheat and on rice.
The University admitted 9909 students during the year under review.
Students amenities & welfare In pursuance of the 20-point Programme announced by the Prime Minister, larger amenities were provided to the students during the year. Deserving students were given special financial assistance to the extent of about Rs. 3.78 lakhs including Rs. 17,914 from the Student Welfare Fund. Arrangements have also been made for subsidised establishment charges in hostels run by students themselves. Cafeterias have been set up for the supply of wholesome meals in the campus at Re. 1/- per Thali against Rs. 2.50, outside the campus.
Textbook Bank Nearly 20% of the students including all belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes have benefited by the setting up of the Textbook Bank. To students residing outside the campus, four Study Centres having Textbooks have been established.
Games, sports & other cultural activities Among the activities of the University students in the field of games and sports, special mention may be made of the XXIX All-India Inter-Varsity Wrestling Competition and Inter-Varsity (East Zone) Basket Ball Tournament, which were held in the Campus. In the first competition the University got two gold medals. The University team won the East Zone Basket Ball Championship.
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Participation in conferences The University has been a seat of many national and international seminars and symposia in various fields. A number of teachers were deputed to attend various Seminars, Conferences, etc., within, the country and abroad. A few among the important seminars, etc. are a Seminar on "Democracy in India-Challenges and Perspective", All-India Conference on Women's Education, UNESCO Conference on "Man and the Biosphere", International Symposium on "Rural Settlements in Monsoon Lands and the 20th Congress of the Indian Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
Computer centre The University has obtained sanction of the University Grants Commission for the establishment of the much needed computer centre and seting-up of a Post-Graduate course in computer Science.
Economy measures The University has taken various steps to effect maximum economy like,stoppage of payment of over-time allowance; curtailment of expenditure on celebrations and convocations, on travel abroad and on travel by air; discontinuance of refreshments; reduction in direct telephones.
Finance During 1974-75, the Annual Revenue Budget of the University was Rs. 5.70 crores. 78% of the expenditure was met by receipt of a Block Grant of Rs. 4.45 crores from the University Grants Commission.
The total amount of donations received for general purposes was Rs. 64,500. The value of the property and assets of the University stood at Rs. 19,10,63,700 as on 1-4-1974.
Developmental activities