HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Coordination and determination of standards in higher education is a
subject in the Union List and is a special responsibility of the Central
Government. This responsibility is discharged mainly through the University
Grants Commission which was established in 1956 under an Act of Parlia-
ment. Nine Universities are at present functioning under Acts of Parlia-
ment. Besides, the Central Government have established agencies for
promotion and coordination of research efforts in specialised fields. There
are four such national agencies at present, namely the Indian Council of
Social Science Research, the Indian Council of Historical Research, the
Indian Council of Philosophical Research; and the Indian Institute of
Advanced Study, Shimla.
A. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
Growth of the Higher Education At the beginning of the year 1987-88, the total student enrolment in
system Universities and Colleges was 36.82 lakhs. This was 1.11 lakhs more than
the enrolment in the previous year. The enrolment in the University
Departments was 6.15 lakhs and that in the affiliated Colleges was 30.67
lakhs.
Enrolment in the Faculty of Arts constituted 40.3% of the total enrol-
ment. In the Faculties of Science and Commerce the percentage was 19.7
and 21.5 respectively. Enrolment at the first degree level was 32.40 lakhs
(88%), at the postgraduate level 3.50 lakhs (9.5%); at the research level
0.40 lakh (1.1%); and at the diploma and certificate level 0.52 lakhs
(1.4%).
The number of teachers increased to 2.35 lakhs during the year. Of
these, 0.51 lakhs were in the University Departments/University Colleges
and the rest in the affiliated Colleges. Of the 51150 teachers in the Univer-
sities, 5933 were Professors, 12481 were Readers, 30588 were Lecturers
and 2148 were Tutors/Demonstrators. In the affiliated Colleges, the number
of senior teachers was 24371, the number of Lecturers was 150621 and
that of Tutors/Demonstrators was 8246.
During the year under report, 4 State Universities, namely, the Univer-
sity of Health Sciences (Vijayawada), North Gujarat University (Patan),
University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) and Raipur Krishi Vishwa-
vidyalaya (Raipur) were established.
Higher Education among Women The enrolment of women students at the beginning of the year 1987-88
was 11.25 lakhs as against 10.59 lakhs in the previous year. At the post-
graduate level, the enrolment of women was 31.5% of the total enrolment.
The enrolment of women students was the highest in Kerala (50.4%)
followed by Punjab (45.5%), Deihi (43.5%) and Haryana (40.7%). The
enrolment of women was the lowest in Bihar (15.1%).
Programmes and Activities of the During the year 1987-88, several major efforts were made for imple-
Commission mentation of the National Policy on Education-1986 and the Program-
me of Action. A number of Expert Groups/Task Forces which were set up
to develop concrete programmes for implementing the directions Riven in
the Policy and the POA completed their deliberations. Guidelines were
framed for programmes which required to be implemented by various
agencies; and new programmes were formulated for implementing some of
the new directions given in the Policy and the POA. A brief account of
the efforts made by the Commission in this direction is given in the follow-
ing paragraphs.
Autonomous Colleges The revised guidelines for the scheme of autonomous colleges were
finalised and circulated to all Universities/Colleges/State Governments in
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January, 1987. The programme visualises the development of about 500
autonomous colleges by the end of the seventh plan. Till December, 1987,
45 Colleges (9 in Andhra Pradesh, 24 in Tamil Nadu, 4 in Rajasthan and
8 in Madhya Pradesh) have been approved for grant of autonomous status.
Proposals made by several colleges are under various stages of considera-
tion by the concerned Universities in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar
Pradesh. The States from which there has been no significant response are
Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab and West Bengal.
Re-designing of Courses The scheme of restructuring undergraduate courses in general educa-
tion was introdced by the U.G.C. with a view to making the first degree
courses more relevant and to link education with work/field/practical ex-
perience and productivity. Thirty-one Universities have introduced these
courses in 117 Colleges till November 30, 1987. In order to provide an
impetus to the programme of redesigning of courses, the U.G.C. has set up
24 Curriculum Development Centres, 7 in Sciences and 17 in Humanities
and Social Sciences. These Centres will review the existing curricula with
a view to modernise them and to develop and prepare new teaching and
reading materials. It is expected that the revised materials in the major
disciplines would be available during 1988-89. Meanwhile, the Commis-
sion has continued its assistance to 265 Colleges which have been imple-
menting a programme of College Science improvement besides 40 Univer-
sity Departments which were receiving assistance for University leadership
programme in Science. Similarly, 514 Colleges and 10 University Depart-
ments have been receiving assistance for improvements in teaching Humani-
ties and Social Sciences.
As envisaged in the Programme of Action to implement the NPE, the
Commission has appointed a Committee to work out the details to make
provision for academic recognition/credit for participation in creative acti-
vities like NSS, NCC, sports and games, etc. for the purpose of integrating
participation in these activities with the curricula of various courses.
Consolidation of Existing Institu- The National Policy on Education places the main emphasis in higher
tions education on the consolidation of, and expansion of facilities in, the exist-
ing institutions. Accordingly, a major part of the efforts of the Commission
was devoted to the strengthening of the infrastructure in the existing Univer-
sities and Colleges. The Universities were invited to submit their proposals
for development grants in the Seventh Plan in accordance with the guide-
lines which were formulated in the light of the NPE-POA. The Commission
also decided that instead of sending Visiting Committees to each University
to assess its requirements, the Vice-Chancellors of all Universities along-
with senior Faculty Members and the representatives of the concerned
State Governments should be invited to the U.G.C. for an indepth discus-
sion on their proposals. These discussions were completed during March-
April, 1987, in respect of all the eligible Universities. Following these dis-
cussions, the Commission had approved grants totalling about 200 crores
for 99 Universities in the Seventh Plan period.
As for Colleges, the revised guidelines were circulated in February,
1987. 'Lie emphasis in the guidelines is on improvement of standards and
quality of education, re-structuring and diversification of courses and pro-
vision of better facilities in backward and rural areas. In response to these
guidelines till December, 1987, proposals were received from 2679
Colleges for basic assistance, of which those from 2556 were approved. 1949
Colleges sought assistance for development of undergraduate education,
of which, proposals from 1065 Colleges have been approved. In addition,
the Commission had approved 40 proposals from single faculty Colleges
as well as 11 from postgraduate institutions. The total amount approved
for assitstance to Colleges in the Seventh Plan till December, 1987, is
Rs. 87 crores.
Improvement in Efficiency The Commission has sanctioned computer facilities to 93 Universities.
of these, 76 have already installed these facilities. In addition, the Com-
mission has agreed to provide mini computers to 200 Colleges during the
Seventh Plan period. To begin with; 50 Colleges have been selected and
they have been sanctioned financial assistance for the purpose. Besides
using these facilities for training and research, they would be used for
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maintenance of student records, accounts, and other data required for
administration and management.
Teacher-Recruitment, Training and The NPE visualises reorganisation of methods of recruiting teachers
Performance Evaluation and appointment of teachers on the basis of merit. The scheme of revision
of pay scales of University and College teachers envisages that a candi-
date to become eligible for appointment as Lecturer should have qualified in
a specially conducted test. The U.G.C. has appointed an Expert Committee
to work out the details including the design; content, administration, etc. of
the test. Mean while, the Commission has sanctioned a scheme of establi-
shment of Academic Staff Colleges for the orientation of newly recruited
College and University Lecturers. 48 Universities have been identified to
set up Academic Staff Colleges. Some of these Colleges have started fun-
ctioning during 1987-88. Each College will be able to organise training
for about 400 teachers per annum. Subsequently, these Colleges will also
organise refresher courses for in-service teachers. Another Task Force ap-
pointed by the Commission is evolving a system of performance evalua-
tion of teachers and a code of professional ethics for them. This Task
Force is expected to complete its task in consultation with the representa-
tives of national level organisations of teachers.
(a) Special Assistance Programmes
Strengthening Research The Commission is at present providing assistance to 26 Centres of
Advanced Study and 72 Departments of Special Assistance in Science,
Engineering and Technology and 15 Centres of Advanced Study and 25
Departments of Special Assistance in Humanities and Social Sciences. In
addition, 51 Departmental Research Support Projects in Science and 4 in
Humanities and Social Sciences are under implementation. The subject
panels of the Commission are engaged in identifying more Departments
to be brought under these Special Assistance Programmes.
(b) COSIST Programmes
Eighty-one Departments are being assisted under the scheme of
Strengthening Infrastructure in Science and Technology Education and
Research. Fifteen more Departments have been provisionally identified for
support under this programme.
(c) Common Facilities and Services
Modern computer based information documentation centres have already
been set up at Bangalore, Bombay and Baroda. The Nuclear Science Centre
established at the JNU Campus is being developed as an autonomous insti-
tution of the U.G.C. In addition, during the year it was decided to set up
a Radio Astronomy Centre in the University of Poona, to be run in con-
function with the Giant meter-wave length Radio Telescope of the Tata
institute of Fundamental Research. A National Centre in Astronomy is
proposed to be set up at Osmania University, Hyderabad.
Media and Educationl Technology The U.G.C. has taken the initiative to utilize the time slot given for
higher education and televising the TV programmes in higher education
entitled "Countrywide Classroom". The Commission has agreed to provide
Colour Television sets to about 2000 selected Colleges in phases during
the Seventh Plan period. A perspective plan for the U.G.C. INSAT Project
is being formulated in which projections will be made for future INSAT
time requirement in higher education. The Commission is at present sup-
porting 4 Educational Media Research Centres (EMRCs) at the University
of Poona, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Central Institute of English
and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Seven Audio-Visual Research Centres (AVRCs) at University of Roorkee;
Osmania University; University of Jodhpur; Anna University, Madras;
St. Xavier's College, Calcutta; Madurai Kamraj University, Madurai; and
Kashmir University, Srinagar, are being Supported for training of personnel
and production of software. A proposal for the establishment of a TV
Programme Production Centre at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli,
for production of model telecourses in 15 chosen subjects for undergraduate
students is under the Commisison's consideration.
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(a) Introduction of New Courses
Other Programmes Keeping in view the need for trained man-power in certain emerging
areas of importance, the Commission has been making efforts in consulta-
tion with the concerned National agencies for formulation of courses in
such fields. For instance the Commission has formulated a programme for
introduction of under graduate/postgraduate courses in Environmental
Sciences. To begin with a course in Environmental Engineering and Pol-
lution Control has been formulated. The operationalisation of this program-
me is being worked out in consultation with the Department of Environ-
ment, Government of India. Similarly, in collaboration with the Depart-
ment of Ocean Development, the Commission is considering the intro-
duction of courses in Ocean Science and Technology; programmes of
collaboration with ONGC are under discussion in the field of Marine
Sciences. These programmes are proposed to be developed with an inter-
disciplinary and multi-institutional approach.
(b) Adult, Continuing and Extension Education Programmes
At the beginning of the year 1987-88, 92 Universities and 2121 Colleges
were involved in the Programmes of adult, continuing and extension edu-
cation. In order to ensure effective linkage of post-literacy with continuing
education programmes, the Commission has agreed to continue its assist-
ance to Universities and Colleges till March 31, 1990. It was also decided
to provide assistance for the establishment of Population Education Clubs
in Universities and Colleges and to involve all the Universities and Colleges
in population education activities by 1990.
(C) Scholarships and Fellowships
For the development of research in Universities and Colleges, the
Commission provides assistance for award of junior/senior research fellow-
ships in various subjects. At any given time, 3300 fellowships are opera-
tional under this scheme. These fellowships are awarded only to those
research scholars who have qualified in a national test conducted by the
U.G.C.
Teachers of outstanding eminence are awarded national fellowships for
a specified period to devote themselves exclusively to research and writing.
Under the scheme of Research Scientists, 200 positions have been created
in the grades of Lecturers, Readers and Professors in order to provide
opportunities to those who wish to pursue research as a career. Selections
under this scheme are made directly by the Commission.
(d) Coaching Classes for Competitive Examinations for Weaker Sections
amongst Minority Communities
The Commission continued to provide assistance to 20 Universities and
15 Colleges for organising coaching classes for competitive examinations
for weaker sections among the minority communities. During the year, the
guidelines for this scheme were revised.
(e) Facilities for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes
In addition to the Jr. Research Fellowships reserved for Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes out of the the total number of such fellowships
instituted in various Universities, the Commission is directly awarding
every year 50 fellowships exclusively for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes. Similarly, the Commission has reserved 40 Research Associateship,
for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In order to provide opportu-
nities to teachers in affiliated Colleges belonging to Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Tribes for improving their qualifications by doing M. Phil./Ph.D.,
the Commission has instituted 50 teachers fellowships every year.
(f) Women's Studies
The Commission has agreed to provide assistance to Universities to
undertake well-defined projects for research in Women's Studies and also