36
Development of Universities The Commission has been providing developmental assistance to univer-
sities in accordance with the objectives and general frame work laid down in
two important documents viz. the 'Policy Frame' and Approach to Develop-
ment of Higher Education.'The main emphasis in the current plan is on (a)
improvement of standards; (b) equality of opportunity; (c) restructuring of
courses for practical orientation and greater relevance; (d) extension as an
integral part of education. Low priority has been given to the expansion of
educational facilities by way of support for the establishment of new universi-
ties, centres for post-graduate studies, new departments and to construction/
extension of buildings involving 'brick and mortar.
Specific allocations to universities have been made on the basis of the
recommendations of Visiting Committees, which assessed the needs and
requirements of the universities for a five-year period.
The Commission is also preparing the approach paper for the Seventh
Plan with the help of experts and in the light of comments and suggestions
received from the convenors of Sixth Plan Visiting Committees. In general,
the following objectives have been kept in view:
i) to create research and other centralised facilities at selected centres
for the benefit of a group of institutions in the region/country.
ii) to encourage academic mobility and cross fertilization of ideas with
a view to inculcating the feeling of national integration by providing
special assistance for faculty housing/complex and hostels.
iii) to re-structure courses at first degree levels so that they become
relevant to the local needs and environment and increase the areas
of employability of graduates.
iv) to give priority to programmes intended to achieve the national
objectives.
v) to develop centres of excellence.
vi) to give equal opportunities, specially to those living in backward
areas and belonging to weaker sections of the society, including
women and handicapped students.
vii) to make optimum use of the existing facilities in the universities/col-
leges specially physical facilities.
Development of Colleges The Commission's assistance for the development of colleges includes
grants for books, equipment and faculty development and the strengthening
of undergraduate and postgraduate instruction and infrastructural facilities
on the basis of guidelines formulated for the purpose. Special consideration
is given for intensive development of colleges located in educationally back-
ward areas, in rural areas, or those catering to the needs of Scheduled Caste/
Scheduled Tribe students and women's colleges.
The Commission's policy, therefore, for development of undergraduate
and post-graduate education in colleges during the Sixth Plan period has two
main aims:
(a) improvement of standards and quality of education and (b) removal
of disparities and regional-imbalances in higher education facilities.
37
B. CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES
Aligarh Muslim The academic schedule of the University which lagged behind due to agi-
University, Aligarh tations and disturbances from time to time was restored to complete nor-
malcy. The 1984-85 Session started on 1.8.1984.
The number of students on rolls during 1984-85 is 16,190 which includes
the enrolment in schools, colleges and the faculties of the university. During
the year, the university awarded 25 Ph.D. degrees and 28 M.Phil. degrees.
The university added several new courses during the year. These include
postgraduate courses in agricultural sciences; a one-year Post-B.Sc. diploma
course in Computer Science, Diploma course in Archival Studies, M.Sc.
course in Operation Research, M. Tech. course in Computer Science, M.A. in
Fine Arts and Malayalam, and a Post-graduate diploma course in Petroleum
Processing. Besides, new combinations involving courses in Instrumentation
and Computer Science were introduced in the Department of Physics at the
B.Sc. level, the diploma courses in the polytechnics were diversified and
Courses in Journalism and Urdu Calligraphy were introduced.
The Coaching Scheme for various competitive examinations has expand-
ed its scope. During the year, about 112 students received coaching and
guidance for Civil Services Examinations.
During the year, construction of a 500 students' hostel was completed. A
150 bed extension to the J.N. Medical College Hospital is nearing comple-
tion.
The Merit Promotion Scheme has gone a long way towards removal of
stagnation among teachers. The university also introduced the scheme of
rotation of chairmanship through suitbale amendment of its Ordinance res-
tricting the tenure to five years for each Chairman.
The university has taken the initiative of implementing the scheme for
upliftment of status of artisans in the State of Uttar Pradesh and has so far
conducted several surveys in this regard in important industries like hard-
ware and lock industry in Aligarh, brassware industry in Moradabad and
musical instruments industries in Meerut, where there is thick concentration
of artisans.
Extra-curricular activities were given special emphasis through inter-hall
and inter-hostel competitions in intellectual and physical realms. in the field
of admissions, the university assured preference to outstanding sportsmen
and students from different States, apart from reservation for Scheduled Cas-
tes/Scheduled Tribes.
The university was allowed to convene the meetings of the Executive
Council and the University Court, which had remained stayed by the orders
of the Allahabad High Court since August 1982 and April 1983 respectively.
The Executive Council had three meetings in February, May and August
1984. The Court, however, met only once in August, 1984, and the elections
of the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, and the Hon. Treasurer were held.
University of Delhi, Delhi During the year 1984-85, there are 92,594 students on rolls in the regular
38
courses offered by the university departments and colleges. The number of students on rolls as Non-Collegiate Women students is 13,185, while the External Candidates Cell registered 18,528 as private candidates. The School of Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education has an enrol- ment of 18,500 students. Thus, during the year under report, the total num- ber of students on the rolls of the university was 1,42,807. It will be seen that there is an increase of nearly 14,000 students as compared to the enrolment in the year 1983-84.
The number of students enrolled as Ph.D. students is 2,250, whereas, dur- ing the year, 668 students are on rolls for M. Phil. courses.
During the year 1984-85, the total number of staff strength of the univer- sity is as follows:
Professors 194
Readers 284
Lecturers 143
Research Associates 6
Total: 627
During the year, the university has decided to introduce Post-Graduate Course in Applied Operational Research at the South Campus and M.Sc. Course in Biochemistry under the Faculty of Sciences at Vallabbhai Patel Chest Institute. The university also decided to start, in collaboration with the Department of Electronics, the M.Sc. course in Electronic Sciences, Post- B.Sc. Diploma Course in Electronics and M. Tech. course at South Campus. In addition to that, the university has also received approval of the University Grants Commission to start Post-Graduate Inter Disciplinary Course, New Inter Disciplinary Post-Graduate course viz. Bio-Chemistry, Genetics, Envi- ronmental Biology, Micro-Geology, High Pressure Physics, Bio-Physics and Applied Psychology at the South Campus.,
The university has decided to establish a Chair in the name of Prem Chand in the Department of Hindi.
The university granted affiliation to the Guru Govind Singh College of Commerce.
The university has instituted some new medals, fellowships and scholar- ships donated by individuals and organisations. The university organised several lectures during the year by eminent scholars both from India and abroad. Several teachers of the university were honoured by professional organisations in their respective fields.
University of Hyderabad During the year under report, the university admitted 442 new students to
39
various post-graduate programmes offered by it on the results of an all-India
admission test. Of these, 55 students belong to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled
Tribes and 6 are physically handicapped. The total students' strength during
the year was 746.
During 1984-85, the university introduced a new post-graduate diploma
course in Computer Applications. This is in addition to the existing six-
semester course of Master of Computer Applications, and a three-semester
M.Tech. Course in Computer Science. The university is gradually developing
an active centre in Computer Science.
The total faculty strength of the university increased to 113, with 18 Pro-
fessors and 41 Readers. Fifteen students qualified for the award of Ph.D.
degree during the year.
Special coaching classes were held for improvement of communication
skills of students belonging to weaker sections. The university also rendered
financial assistance to deserving students in the form of merit scholarships,
merit-cum-means scholarships and free-ships.
During the year, the university organised several national and internati-
onal seminars. The members of the university faculty also participated in a
number of conferences and seminars held in India and abroad. Some teach-
ers of the university received distinctions and awards like the Shanti Swa-
roop Bhatnagar Award and the FICCI Award.
The university has yet to provide the physical facilities required for the
first phase of its establishment. Among the new building projects are the
construction of the ground-floor of the science complex, the administrative
building, students' hostels and staff quarters.
Jawahar lal Nehru University Admissions to the 1984-85 academic session were made on the basis of
the revised admission procedures finalised by the university. According to
the revised procedure, admission to various programmes are made on merit
adjudged on the basis of a uniform All India Examination held at 21 centres
throughout the country. 15% seats are reserved for scheduled castes, 7.5%
for scheduled tribes, and 3% for physically handicapped students.
Entrance test for admission to the 1984-85 session was held at 20 centres
throughout the country. Out of a total of 11,682 applicants, 4790 actually
took the test. From among the candidates who qualified in the test and were
offered admission, 847 candidates belonging to 27 States and Union Territo-
ries in the country actually joined the university. Out of them, 91 belong to
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and 12 are physically handicapped.
Besides, 280 students joined various part-time certificate/diploma courses.
The total strength of the teaching staff during the year was 2 78, consisting
of 84 Professors, 107 Associate Professors and 87 Assistant Professors.
Under the Merit Promotion Scheme, 41 faculty members were elevated to
the posts of Associate Professor and 31 to the posts of Professor during
1983-84.
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1953 students were awarded Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates. These inc- lude 82 Ph.D., 219 M.Phil., 663 M.A./M.Sc. 768 B.A./B.Sc./B.A.(Hons.) degrees and 221 Certificates/Diplomas etc.
The School of Life Science of the university has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the UGC under its COSIST programme. The School, of Arts and Aesthetics and the School of Physical Sciences are expected to start functioning from the 1985-86 academic session. An Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is to be set up on the Campus under the aegis of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University has been awarded the Soviet Land Nehru Award for establishing the first and the foremost Centre of Russian Studies and the Centre for Soviet and European Studies.
During the period under report, the following five Institutions were recog- nised by the university for the purpose of academic evaluation and award of degrees:
a) Military College of Engineering, Pune.