HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Maintenance 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 under an Act of Parliament.
Seven Universities are, at present, functioning under Acts of Parliament.
Besides, the Central Government have established agencies for promotion
and coordination of research efforts in specialised fields. There are three
such national agencies, at present, namely, the Indian Council of Social
Science Research, the Indian Council of Historical Research and the Indian
Council of Philosophical Research. The Central Government have also been
implementing a number of schemes in the field of higher education and re-
search particularly relating to academic collaboration between India and
other countries.
Central Legislation in Higher During 1981-82, Parliament had passed amendments to the Acts of two
Education Central Universities. These were :-
Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 1981
The Aligarh Muslim University Act was comprehensively amended in
1981 with a view to restoring the original character of the University.
Through amendments to the long title and the preamble of the Act and an
elaboration of the definition of the term 'University', it has been made clear
that the Aligarh Muslim University means the educational Institution of
their choice, established by the Muslims of India, which originated as
Mohammaden Anglo-Oriental College and which was later incorporated as
a University. The amended Act retains the provisions to ensure the secular
and national character of the University. However, it makes a provision to en-
able the University to take steps especially for the educational and cultural
advancement of the Muslims. The Act also makes provision for restoring
the power of supreme governance of the University to its Court, the com-
position of which has been broad-based. The Chancellor and the Pro-
Chancellor will be elected by the Court, and a panel of names from among
which the Vice-Chancellor has to be appointed, will be recommended by
the Court. The office of the Honorary Treasurer has been revived. The
provisions in the amending Legislation were formulated after prolonged con-
sultations with various shades of opinion and on the basis of the consensus
which emerged during these consultations.
Delhi University (Amendment) Act Parliament has passed an Amendment to the Delhi University Act which would enable the University to affiliate institutions outside the country. This amendment is significant as it would enable friendly foreign countries to establish academic links with a premier central university in India through formal affiliation of their institutions.
A. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION The Sixth Plan (1980-85) visualises an outlay of Rs. 280 crores, for the programmes of development of universities and colleges. An additional outlay of Rs. 27.5 crores has been made for development programmes in the field of engineering and technology in the university departments. During 1980-81 the Commission had finalised the guidelines for formulation of proposals by universities and colleges during the Sixth Plan. Out of the total outlay of Rs. 280 crores, the Commission has allocated Rs. 84 crores for special programmes and research, Rs. 11.2 crores for the development of universities, Rs. 70 crores for the development of colleges and Rs. 14 crores for implementation of specific schemes in Central Universities and institutions deemed to be Universities.
18 In addition to continuing the existing programmes which are aimed at strengthening teaching and research activities in the universities and colleges, and maintaining and improving academic standards, during the Sixth Plan the Commission proposes to give greater emphasis on programmes like restructuring of courses to make them more relevant, introduction of short- term Diploma course to enlarge the area of employability of graduates, and new courses in emerging areas, developing studies in educational technology, mass communication and museology, strengthening planning cells in the universities, research projects of national and regional, relevance, developing selected centres for production of teaching aids, promotion of university- college interaction for strengthening integrated education, etc.
Trends and Growth of Higher Education The enrolment in universities and colleges increased from 26.5 lakhs in 1979-80 to 27.5 lakhs in 1980-81. The percentage of increase was 3.9 against 1.2 in 1979-80. However, it was below the average annual growth rate of 4% registered during the decade 1970-71 to 1979-80.
The enrolment during 1980-81 in the Arts Faculty constituted 40.5% of the total enrolment, that in the: Faculties of Science and Commerce accounted for about 20% each. Compared to 1979-80 the increase in enrolment in various faculties was only marginal. Enrolment in the Faculty of Law was marginally less than in 1979-80.
The enrolment at first-degree level during 1980-81 was 24 lakhs, at post-graduate level 2.7 lakhs, at research level 0.30 lakhs and at diploma and certificate levels 0.48 lakhs. Compared to 1979-80, the major increase in enrolment was only at the first-degree level.
During 1981-82, four new Universities were established. These are : Jagannath Sanskrit University at Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Tamil University at Thanjavur (Tamilnadu), Sri Krishna Devaraya University at Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh), and Vidya Sagar University at Midnapur (West Bengal). Besides, on the recommendation of the Commission, two institutions were notified as deemed to be Universities' under Section 3 of the UGC Act during 1981-82. These are the Dayal Bagh Educational Institute, Agra., and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanti Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh.
Programmes for Scheduled Castes/Tribes The enrolment of students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Sche- duled Tribes in higher education continued to be much below the percentage reserved for them in admission. While the enrolment of Scheduled Caste students was about 7.5%, that of the Scheduled Tribes was only about 1,6% of the total enrolment.
In July, 1981, the Commission requested all universities to ensure that the percentage of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is fully utilised as quickly as possible, and that for this purpose, all such students may be admitted by allowing concessions in marks till the percentage of reservation is reached.
The percentage of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among lecturers has been only 1.5 and 0.59 respectively, and among the non- teaching posts it was 11.51 and 2.04 respectively. The universities and colleges have been advised to make all possible efforts to recruit persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for teaching and non-teaching posts against the reservation fixed for them.
All universities have been. requested to set up Special Cells to watch the progress of implementation of various measures for the benefits of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 48 Universities have so far set up such Cells. Besides. the Commission has requested the universities to reserve 20% seats in hostels for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students; 10% of all Fellowships awarded by the,Commission at various levels have been reserved for them; 50 junior fellowships, 20 post-doctoral fellow- ships and 20 research associateships have been instituted for Scheduled
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Castes and Scheduled Tribes specifically. 25 Post-graduate scholarships have been instituted for Scheduled Tribe students from border hill areas. About 100 colleges located in tribal areas and catering to the needs of tribal students are proposed to be given special assistance during the Sixth Plan period. A provision of Rs. 3 crores has been set apart for this purpose.
Physically Disabled Students During 1981, which was declared as the International Year for the Disabled, the Commission had instituted 10 Research Associateships and 20 Post-Doctoral Fellowships for award every year to physically dis- abled students who are eligible for such award. Universities have been requested to award 1% of the Junior Fellowships allocated to them, with at least one award every year, to the physically disabled students. Besides, the Commission proposes to offer assistance for introducing special courses leading to B.Ed. degrees in selected universities for train- ing people to teach physically handicapped students.
Development of Higher Education among Women The Commission continued to give priority to the development of higher education among women. The number of women students during 1980-81 was 7.5 lakhs which constituted 27.2% of the total enrolment. The percentage of women students was the highest at. the Post-graduate level. The percentage of enrolment of women has been-increasing since 1970-71 when it was only 22.1 % of the total enrolment.
In the guidelines for providing assistance to colleges for development during the Sixth Plan period, women's colleges have been bracketed with the colleges located in backward areas and the standard of student en- rolment in women colleges is reduced by 100 as compared with other colleges for receiving assistance,
A meeting of experts on the role of women in education of young people for peace, mutual understanding and respect for human rights was organised by the Commission in cooperation with UNESCO in December, 1981.
Activities during 1981-82 The programmes implemented by the Commission broadly fall into four major categories. These are :-
(i) Special Programmes for Improvement of Quality; (ii) Support for Research; (iii) Development of Universities; and (iv) Development of Colleges.
A brief account of activities in these four major areas during 1981-82 is given below :-
(i) Special Programmes for Improvement of Quality : Centres of Advanced Study
The Commission continued to provide assistance for 28 Centres of Advanced Study and 48 Departments of Special Assistance in Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering and Technology. The Commission has decided to undertake an evaluation of 12 centres of advanced study in Science which have completed 15 years of assistance from the UGC.
COSIP/ULP : 196 Colleges have been assisted under the College Science Improvement Programme of which 98 completed the first and second phase extending over a period of 5 years. Six Colleges were approved for assistance during 1981-82. 40 University Departments have so far been assisted under the University Leadership Projects in Science.
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COHSIP/ULP : 148 colleges and 15 university departments are being assisted under University Leadership Projects in Humanities and Social Sciences. 20 new colleges have been selected under the scheme of College Humanities and Social Science Improvement Project during 1981-82.
University Service and Instrumentation Centres: Two new University Service and Instrumentation Centres were approved during 1981-82. This brings the total number of such centres to 55. An assessment Committee has been constituted to evaluate the working of these Centres. Two regional Instrumentation Centres-one at Bangalore and another at
Bombay are also being assisted by the Commission. These Regional Centres are organising training programmes for the staff of the University Centres.
Computer Centres : 29 universities have installed Computers. On the basis of a manpower study conducted jointly by the Commission and the Department of Electronics, 19 universities have been identified for initiat- ing in a phased manner courses for the training of computer manpower per annum during the Sixth Plan.
Wild Life Studies : The Punjab University was provided assistance to organise a 6-month training programme for university, and college teachers to study wild-life and provide field training. The AVC College, Mayuram was provided assistance to run a course in Wild-Life Biology at the M.Sc. level.
Correspondence Courses : Proposals of the Calcutta and Patna Uni- versities for introducing Correspondence Courses were approved. With this, almost every State in the country will have facilities for Corres- pondence Courses. To improve the functioning of Correspondence Cours- es, fresh guidelines have been prepared which stress prompt despatch of lessons and reading material to students; provision has also been made for the award of a certificate on successful completion of studies without necessarily obtaining a degree. The quantum of assistance for correspon- dence courses has been increased from Rs. 1 lakh per annum to Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum during Sixth Plan.
Restructuring Courses : A Programme to remodel the existing conven- tional courses with the integration of a third subject oriented towards field/practical work relevant to the local and regional needs, was initiated by the Commission some time back. 31 colleges and one university are presently participating in the scheme. The Commission has decided to extend its assistance for a further period of two years for this programme.
Other Programmes : The UGC continued to provide assistance to two science education centres, and to selected universities for examination reform units. The Commission is reviewing existing guidelines for adult education, extension and continuing education programmes.
Seminars, Symposia, Summer Institutes : During 1981-82, 110 Semi- nars, Symposia. Workshops, Refresher Courses, and Short-term Institutes were approved in the Humanities and Social Sciences, and 65 in Sciences. In addition, universities and colleges were provided financial assistance for hosting 90 Conferences.